Detroit Pistons

Ryan Kostecka

After entering Tuesday night on the second end of a back-to-back against a team they struggled against earlier in the season — and not to mention the physical and brutal defeats in the two games prior — it wouldn’t have been surprising if Utah struggled.

Utah came out focused and energized, using multiple runs throughout and a great defensive effort in the second half to take down Detroit 126-111.

“That’s a great team win on the second night of a back-to-back. … A lot of different guys contributed,” head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “It was a good bounce back for us after two rough games. I thought that game looked and felt a lot more like the team you guys have gotten to know so far this year. … I thought that our competitiveness really showed through.”

Here are five things to know following the win:

1.) Markkanen Makes His CaseAfter another hot start in the opening 12 minutes, Lauri Markkanen was downright dominant all game long. He tied his career-high with 38 points on 13-for-20 from the floor and 9-of-13 from beyond the arc, adding five rebounds. His nine three-pointers made was a career-high.

After being aggressive and getting to the free throw line last night against Cleveland, Markkanen showed that he’s just as good in the midrange and from deep. His most impressive moment came when he drilled a stepback three-pointer on one possession and followed that up with an impressive shot fake that allowed him to soar in for a dunk on the following possession.

“I always give credit to my teammates,” Markkanen said. “I think all of them were catch-and-shoot threes, so they did a good job of finding me, getting me open with good screens. So it was easy because I just had to step in and knock them down. … Happy to see a couple go through the hoop.”

2.) Conley ControlIt’s safe to say that Mike Conley hasn’t been up to his usual standards when shooting the ball. A splendid sharpshooter from beyond the arc, he has struggled since his return from injury.

But by no means does that signal that the 16-year veteran point guard can’t take complete control of a game. All someone had to do was watch the third quarter to realize his influence on Utah’s offense.

With Conley at the helm, the Jazz broke the game open by dropping 34 points in the quarter. When the Pistons started to make a push, Conley slowed things down and executed Utah’s offense to perfection.

He generated many open looks for his teammates, ensuring they never got sped up in the process. He finished with four points, three assists, and a +9 rating in the quarter.

While his seven points and seven assists may not seem like an impressive stat line, it was more about how he controlled the game and became the backbone the Jazz needed when it got close.

3.) No Zone, No MoreThroughout the season, Hardy has often gone to a zone defense to break up the rhythm of the opposing team. With Utah struggling in the second quarter on Tuesday night, he did the same thing — going to a zone defense with the idea of forcing the Pistons into different actions on offense.

Unfortunately, behind the play of rookie point guard Jaden Ivey, Detroit was undeterred and their offensive success continued after dropping 36 points in the second quarter.

Hardy went into the locker room at the break and asked his team whether or not they should stay with the zone or go back to man. The answer was swift and resounding — man defense it was. The Jazz responded by limiting the Pistons to 25 points in the third and breaking the game open.

“The team made a great adjustment by telling me not to do any more zone in the second half,” he said. “They committed to playing man-to-man defense at a very high level, and I think that was a big part of the reason why we were able to win the game. … I think that’s great for them to take ownership of what they’re most comfortable in.”

4.) Vando Dominates On Both EndsBefore Markkanen proved his All-Star candidacy over the past few weeks, Jarred Vanderbilt clamored for the 7-footer from Finland to be voted into the game.

While he may not be playing in the game himself, Vanderbilt was sensational on Tuesday night. He tied his season-high with 18 points, adding 13 rebounds and six assists as he was arguably Utah’s most important player on the court.

He got things started with a corner three-pointer, looking much more comfortable on those catch-and-shoot opportunities as he finished 2-for-4 from deep. While his offense was excellent, his defense and rebounding remain his best assets, as he completely changed the game on that end of the court.

“I thought Vando sparked us with his energy. ... He moved the ball great tonight,” Hardy said.

5.) Markkanen Makes His Case | Part IIThe big news entering Tuesday night was that NBA All-Star voting had officially opened that morning — and Markkanen reminded everyone that he deserves to be playing at the February showcase.

He’s emerged as Utah’s No. 1 option and has proven that he belongs in the discussion as NBA All-Star, among other potential accolades.

Markkanen is in the midst of a career year under Hardy, averaging career-highs of 22.8 points on 53.4% shooting from the field and 43.8% from three-point territory. He’s also putting up 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, all while elevating his play on the defensive end of the court.

First, Vanderbilt was preaching for Markkanen to play in the All-Star game, and now Jazz owner Ryan Smith has gotten in on the action. At this point… it’s hard to imagine Markkanen not being a part of the February showcase.

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“Give Credit To My Teammates" | Five Things To Know Following Utah's Victory Over Detroit

The odds were against Utah on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Not only were they playing their third game in four days — all in different cities — but they were facing a Detroit team who had beaten them handily earlier in the season.&nbsp;

Despite playing the second end of a back-to-back, Utah came out focused and energized as they took down Detroit 126-111. With the win, the Jazz salvaged a difficult road trip to stay above .500 at 18-16 on the season.

“That’s a great team win on the second night of a back-to-back. … A lot of different guys contributed,” head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “It was a good bounce back for us after two rough games. I thought that game looked and felt a lot more like the team you guys have gotten to know so far this year. … I thought that our competitiveness really showed through.”&nbsp;

The big news entering Tuesday night was that NBA All-Star voting had officially opened that morning — and Lauri Markkanen reminded everyone that he deserves to be playing at the February showcase.&nbsp;

After another hot start in the opening 12 minutes, Markkanen was downright dominant all game long. He tied his career-high with 38 points on 13-for-20 from the floor and 9-of-13 from beyond the arc, adding five rebounds. His nine three-pointers made was a career-high.

After being aggressive and getting to the free throw line last night against Cleveland, Markkanen showed that he’s just as good in the midrange and from deep. His most impressive moment came when he drilled a stepback three-pointer on one possession and followed that up with an impressive shot fake that allowed him to soar in for a dunk on the following possession.&nbsp;

“I always give credit to my teammates,” Markkanen said. “I think all of them were catch-and-shoot threes, so they did a good job of finding me, getting me open with good screens. So it was easy because I just had to step in and knock them down. … Happy to see a couple go through the hoop.”&nbsp;

Before Markkanen proved his All-Star candidacy over the past few weeks, Jarred Vanderbilt clamored for the 7-footer from Finland to be voted into the game.&nbsp;

While he may not be playing in the game himself, Vanderbilt was sensational on Tuesday night. He tied his season-high with 18 points, adding 13 rebounds and six assists as he was arguably Utah’s most important player on the court.&nbsp;

He got things started with a corner three-pointer, looking much more comfortable on those catch-and-shoot opportunities as he finished 2-for-4 from deep. While his offense was excellent, his defense and rebounding remain his best assets, as he completely changed the game on that end of the court.&nbsp;

“I thought Vando sparked us with his energy, he moved the ball great tonight,” Hardy said.&nbsp;

Another Jazz game, another strong start by The Finisher — Markkanen was red-hot in the opening 12 minutes. He dropped 16 points in the opening quarter, including nine in the first five minutes, as he was on fire from deep.&nbsp;

Vanderbilt started things with a three-pointer, but then the teams exchanged buckets for the next six minutes before Detroit took a one-point lead. Utah responded with a quick 7-0 run to lead 31-24 after one.

Vanderbilt stayed hot for the Jazz with a quick five to start the second, giving the Jazz a 13-point lead just under three minutes in.&nbsp;

But that’s when Detroit, led by Alec Burks and Jaden Ivey, responded. They helped the Pistons go on a 19-5 run to take a three-point lead with just over four to play in the half.&nbsp;

After Mike Conley tied things up following a three, Jordan Clarkson took over. He scored Utah’s final 12 points of the half as the Jazz took a 61-60 lead at the break.&nbsp;

The third quarter opened up similarly to the first, as neither could pull away. The Jazz began to find some separation following a quick 5-0 run, but former Jazzman Bojan Bogdanovic responded with a three-pointer for Detroit.&nbsp;

However, the Jazz would get the final say. After Detroit cut the deficit to four, Utah gave itself some breathing room with a 10-2 run to lead 95-85 entering the fourth.&nbsp;

Detroit cut the deficit to single digits early in the fourth, but a 9-3 run gave the Jazz a lead they would never relinquish. Every time Detroit appeared to find some rhythm, Markkanen or Malik Beasley responded with a clutch shot as the Jazz cruised to the win over the final six minutes.&nbsp;

Clarkson was dynamite in spurts, calling his own number when required as he finished with 21 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Walker Kessler, starting again in place of the injured Kelly Olynyk, finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.&nbsp;

Malik Beasley led the bench unit with 17 points and three rebounds, while Conley added seven points and seven assists.&nbsp;

Utah returns home for a single game against Washington before heading back on the road for a three-game swing after Christmas. Tipoff for Thursday’s showdown with the Wizards is set for 7 p.m. MST.&nbsp;

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"Good Bounce Back" | Markkanen And Vanderbilt Power Utah To Big Win Over Detroit

Jeremy Rincon

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Highlights: Lauri Markkanen – 38 points, 5 rebounds, 9 3PM

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Highlights: Jazz 126 | Pistons 111

The road trip reunion comes to an end.&nbsp;

After facing former seeing former Jazzmen Joe Ingles (Milwaukee) and Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland) the past two games, Utah will conclude its road trip down memory lane on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

The Jazz square off with Bojan Bogdanovic and the Detroit Pistons, concluding their three-game swing through the midwest.&nbsp;

After falling by large margins to the Bucks and Cavs — two of the best teams in the league — Utah will try to salvage the three-game swing with their lone victory of the trip.&nbsp;

The Jazz were overwhelmed by both teams' size, length, and pressure — the top two defensive squads in the NBA. However, Utah should get a slight reprieve against the Pistons, who currently rank second-to-last in defensive rating.&nbsp;

"I think that these last two games have shown us that when teams do have a significant size advantage on us, we really have to be more cognizant of the little things to help each other create good shots," head coach Will Hardy said Monday night.

The good news for Utah is that some offensive help could be on the way, as there's a chance that Kelly Olynyk returns to the court against his former team.&nbsp;

Olynyk was traded to Utah as part of a package deal that sent Bogdanovic to the Pistons — the final trade of the offseason for the Jazz. Since arriving in Salt Lake City, he's emerged as the ideal complement to the roster, a spacing big-man who plays a hard-nosed style of defense and can serve as a secondary playmaker.&nbsp;

He sorely missed against Cleveland, sitting out with a left ankle sprain.&nbsp;

"Kelly is a big part of our team," Hardy said. "He's a very versatile player that presents a matchup problem in a lot of ways because small guys struggle with his size and the bigger guys tend to struggle with the fact that he can space the floor, and he's very skilled."

The Jazz and Pistons are no strangers to one another, having already squared off once this season. Detroit came to Utah and emerged with a 125-116 victory.

Regardless, the Jazz aren't deterred after their tough two-game stretch and will enter Tuesday night with as much confidence as usual.&nbsp;

"The good news is that these games only count as one.," Hardy said Monday. "It's never as bad as it feels. … It's our job to strip away the emotion, try to learn from this game because we play again tomorrow.”

Detroit (8-24, 4-11 home / No. 15 Eastern Conference)Offense*111.3 Points Per Game (No. 19 in NBA)*110.7 Offensive Rating (No. 23 in NBA)Defense*117.9 Points Per Game (No. 29 in NBA)*117.2 Defensive Rating (No. 29 in NBA)Individual*Bojan Bogdanovic: 21.3 points | 3.5 rebounds | 42.3% 3P-shooting*Jaden Ivey: 15.0 points | 4.3 rebounds | 3.9 assists&nbsp;*Saddiq Bey: 14.2 points | 4.0 rebounds*Alec Burks: 13.8 points | 3.0 rebounds | 40.2% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Malik Beasley vs. Alec Burks— The last time these two teams met, Beasley and Burks put on a show from three-point territory. Beasley finished with a season-high 29 points on 8-of-15 from deep, while Burks added 18 points on 4-of-6 from deep. Both of these players are key components to their respective bench units and should play big roles tonight.&nbsp;

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;5:00 p.m. MSTLocation: Little Caesars Arena/ Detroit, MITV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;The Zone Sports Network

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"Learn From This" | Utah Looks To Rally Against Bogdanovic and Detroit on Tuesday

Despite an impressive offensive performance, Utah couldn't string together enough stops defensively and fell 125-116 to Detroit on Wednesday night.

"I thought we played pretty good basketball in the second half," head coach Will Hardy said. "As a team, I thought we got to where we are by having a chip on our shoulders. … I do not think we had that chip on our shoulders tonight."

Even in the loss, it was a memorable night for Jordan Clarkson.

With a three-pointer midway through the third quarter, he moved into fifth all-time in Jazz franchise history for made three-pointers. Ironically he moved past former teammate Bojan Bogdanovic, who had a great view of the shot as he was on the court playing for Detroit.

Overall, Clarkson finished with 24 points, three rebounds, and two assists. He was particularly effective in the third quarter, finishing with nine points while keeping the Jazz afloat against the hot-shooting Pistons.

After his worst shooting performance of the season two nights ago, Malik Beasley insisted that nothing would change in his routine. He said his confidence would never waver, believing the next shot was going in.

Beasley was sensational for the Jazz off the bench, finishing with a team-high 29 points on 8-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc. He added a career-high 11 rebounds and five assists — his first double-double of the season.

He was particularly deadly in the first half, scoring 17 points and single-handedly keeping the Jazz in the game. Whenever Utah needed a big bucket, Beasley was unafraid to be the one taking it.

With Mike Conley still dealing with a left knee injury, Collin Sexton made his second consecutive start. After a rough go of things on Monday, Sexton looked like a different player running the offense on Wednesday.

He finished with 17 points and a career-high 12 assists, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor.

Despite playing in Denver last night, the Pistons came out with energy after jumping to an early 14-5 lead. But Beasley made an immediate impact, igniting an 18-6 Utah run with a layup just seconds into checking in.

Leading by two, the Jazz could not keep the momentum as Detroit ended the quarter on a 9-2 run — leading 30-25.

The beginning of the second belonged to Detroit as they extended their lead to 49-35 midway through the quarter. Utah responded 12-2 run as Clarkson caught fire, scoring seven points during that span. But once again, the Jazz were unable to keep the momentum. Bojan Bogdanovic took over, scoring nine points during a 13-4 run for the Pistons.

The message at the half appeared to work as Utah started the third on a 7-2 run, seizing momentum and igniting the Vivint Arena crowd. However, it was short-lived as Marvin Bagley was unstoppable for the Pistons, helping push the lead back to 13 midway through the third.

Although the offense remained elite for the remainder of the quarter, the Jazz couldn't string together enough defensive stops to cut into the lead. A pair of Simone Fontecchio three-pointers got the deficit down to four, but Detroit rallied with a 4-0 run to end the quarter.

Utah trailed 98-90 heading into the final 12 minutes.

The fourth quarter was back and forth, but the Jazz couldn't pull even. Despite big shots from Lauri Markkanen, Beasley, and Fontecchio, Detroit always had an answer.

After the Jazz pulled within three, the Pistons responded with a 5-0 run. After Utah got it back down to four, another 5-0 run gave Detroit a 110-101 lead with just under seven to play.

The Jazz cut the deficit to three with just over two minutes to play and appeared to get the ball back on offense, but a no-call by the officials gave Detroit the ball. Markkanen took an elbow to the face from Detroit's Jalen Duren, but no foul was called, resulting in the Pistons' possession and an ensuing three-pointer.

"I thought the game was lost in the first half with our lack of defensive energy. … I have to do a better job of getting our guys prepared," Hardy said.

Markkanen finished with 13 points — all in the second half — and eight rebounds, while Fontecchio added 10 points.

The Jazz have Thanksgiving off before returning to action for a brutal back-to-back, set to begin at Golden State on Friday before traveling to Phoenix on Saturday. Tipoff in the Bay Area is set for 8 p.m. MST.

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"Have To Do A Better Job" | Jazz Struggle On Defense, Fall To Detroit On Wednesday Night

Before they gorge themselves in Thanksgiving feasts with their families on Thursday,&nbsp; Utah has some business to take care of first. The Jazz will look to get back to their winning ways when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night — tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.

It’ll also be a special night for Bojan Bogdanvoic, the former Jazzman who makes his return to the snowy mountains after being traded to Detroit this past offseason.

A key free-agent signing before the 19/20 season, the Clutch Croatian was immediately embraced by the Jazz fanbase with his strong work ethic, obvious love of the game, and ability to hit a memorable game-winning shot.&nbsp;

Bogdanovic averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists throughout his career in Utah, shooting 49.6 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent beyond the arc. The fan-favorite was one of the greatest shooters to put on a Jazz jersey, ranking in the top-10 of multiple shooting categories.

He’s ranked No. 5 (189, 2019-20) and 10 (181, 2021-22) in most three-pointers made in a single-season, and No. 3 in free throw percentage (90.3%, 2019-20). He leaves Utah ranked third in free throw percentage (88.0 percent), fifth in made three-pointers (550), and No. 10 in points per game (18.4).

In exchange for Bogdanovic, the Jazz acquired center/forward Kelly Olynyk, guard Saben Lee, and cash considerations. While Lee is no longer with the Jazz, Olynyk has been sensational as the team’s starting forward.&nbsp;

He’s averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while shooting a career-high 50% from three-point territory. His ability to space the floor has been huge in Utah’s offense, allowing other Jazz players to thrive in their current roles. He’s also emerged as one of Utah’s vocal leaders, helping the team adjust to so many new faces in the locker room.&nbsp;

While the Pistons won their first game on the road this season after defeating Denver on Tuesday night, the Jazz come into Wednesday’s showdown following a tough loss to the Clippers on Monday night.&nbsp;

"I'm a part of this group too. … I obviously didn't have a perfect night if we lost by 7," head coach Will Hardy said about needing to be better. "I'm never going to sit here and blame the team, blame the players for us losing a game. … We win together, and we lose together. I'll go back, watch the film, and figure out what we can do to help our team be better."

STATSUtah (12-7, 6-1 home / No. 2 Western Conference)Offense*117.4 Points Per Game (No. 3 in NBA)*115.4 Offensive Rating (No. 4 in NBA)Defense*114.5 Points Per Game (No. 22 in NBA)*112.1 Defensive Rating (No. 18 in NBA)

Detroit Pistons (4-15, 1-10 away / No. 15 Eastern Conference)Offense*109.4 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)*108.9 Offensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Defense*118.0 Points Per Game (No. 28 in NBA)*117.5 Defensive Rating (No. 29 in NBA)

MATCHUP TO WATCH*Kelly Olynyk vs. Bojan Bogdanovic— The two players who were traded for one another will take center stage on Wednesday night. With point guard Mike Conley out, Olynyk has to take on a more prominent role in the offense as both a scorer and assist-man, something he’s proven to do when needed. Bogdanovic is an elite shooter and scorer, and a monstrous performance from him on Wednesday will be needed.&nbsp;

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;7:00 p.m. MSTLocation Vivint Arena/ Salt Lake City, UTTV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;1280 The Zone&nbsp;

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"We Win Together" | Utah Welcomes Back Bogdanovic As They Face Detroit On Wednesday

In a trade that very few around the NBA expected, the Jazz sent second-leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center/forward Kelly Olynyk, guard Saben Lee and cash considerations.

Among that group is Lee, a former second round pick in the 2020 NBA draft who’s now returning to where it all began — sort of.

Here are five things to know about the athletic and quick guard, Lee:

1.) Late-Bloomer In High SchoolMost NBA players have the makings of being stars early in their respective athletic careers. From the moment they walk into the high school gym, coaches and players know who they are and what they can do. 

For Lee, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

He went from being a backup guard as a sophomore to a first-team All-State member as a junior — an extremely impressive jump. After averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, he committed to Vanderbilt following his junior season. 

2.) Rising Star At VanderbiltUnlike in high school, Lee arrived at Vanderbilt and made an immediate impact. 

As a three-star prospect, he earned the starting point guard spot right away and put up 10.6 points, 3.1 assists, and a team-leading 1.2 steals per game. After similar numbers as a sophomore, he broke out the following season as a junior.&nbsp;

With Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers) off to the NBA, Lee took over the Commodores and averaged 18.6 points, 4.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. His breakout game came against Alabama when he finished with 38 points, eight rebounds, and five assists — all while going against elite NBA defender Herb Jones (New Orleans).&nbsp;

Lee was named second-team All-SEC and then declared for the NBA draft.

3.) Coming HomeAlthough Lee spent the first two years of his NBA career in Detroit, it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the Jazz. 

He was originally drafted by Utah with the No. 38 pick in the 2020 draft but was traded to Detroit as the Jazz recouped Elijah Hughes in return.&nbsp;

While it’s a near-lock that Lee would’ve been drafted regardless of Utah, it’s a full-circle moment for the third-year player to return to the team that initially called his name. 

4.) Strong Finish To Second SeasonWith the Pistons firmly out of the playoff picture last season, it allowed Lee to showcase his skills towards the end of the year. 

Over the final three games, he took advantage of the opportunity by averaging 11.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game.&nbsp;

While it was just a small sample size, it was proof of Lee’s growth throughout his first two years in the league and how he’s beginning to scratch the surface of his immense potential.

5.) Athletic LineageAfter entering the NBA as one of the most explosive and impressive athletes in the 2020 draft class, Lee has more than lived up to that billing. But it is no surprise considering the remarkable athleticism in his family genes. 

Lee’s father, Amp, is a Super Bowl-winning running back with the then-St. Louis Rams. After starring at Florida State, Amp played in the NFL for nine seasons, which included catching Joe Montana’s final TD pass.&nbsp;

Lee’s cousin is Trent Forrest, a former Utah Jazz guard. 

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Five Things To Know About Utah's Newest Athletic Guard: Saben Lee

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