Key Matchup

Ryan Kostecka

Entering the final three games of the regular season, the Jazz's postseason hopes are on life support. It's a relatively simple scenario, one Utah loss or one Oklahoma City win and the Jazz can start planning their respective summer vacations.&nbsp;

Utah will have a chance to stave off elimination for at least one more game when they host the Thunder in a massive showdown on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.&nbsp;

What's made the Jazz so entertaining all season long is that they've grown into one of the league's most resilient and battle-tested teams. With their fate hanging in the balance — and the odds continuously stacked against them with injury problems — Utah has refused to back down from anyone.&nbsp;

"Our guys, they prepare to go out and win every night," Hardy told reporters following Tuesday's heartbreaking loss to Los Angeles. "No matter what, they have had the attitude of going out all season and making the most of their opportunity. … They never knew when those opportunities would come, or when they would stop coming. The players have continued to play hard and pull for each other."

Make no mistake, Hardy deserves a lot of credit for the team overachieving this season based on preseason projections. But if you ask him, it's not overachieving for the Jazz — he always believed there was something special about 'Team 49.'

"I'm with these guys every day. … I see how they interact with each other, I see how they prepare," he said. "They're preparing every night to win, they're not just coming out here to play. … They are locked in in the film sessions, they ask questions in the film sessions. They're fully engaged in walkthroughs and shootarounds. … The way they talk to each other in the locker room, the way they carry themselves."

Although Utah has stayed alive in its push for the postseason, the Jazz have been snakebitten by the injury bug as of late.&nbsp;

Leading scorer Lauri Markkanen has only played in four of Utah's last 10 games, dealing with a left hand injury. Jordan Clarkson has missed the last month with a sprained finger on his left hand, and Collin Sexton missed 18 straight games before returning two nights ago against the Lakers.&nbsp;

Yet none of that has stopped the Jazz from competing night in and night out, and Hardy expects the same over the final three games of the year.

"I'm not surprised at all because that's their intent every night. … We've had an attitude all season that when people are out or lineups change, it's just about making the most of your opportunity," he said.&nbsp;

STATSUtah (36-43, 22-17 home / No. 12 Western Conference)Offense*117.1 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*115.6 Offensive Rating (No. 8 in NBA)Defense*117.8 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)*116.0 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Individual*Lauri Markkanen: 25.6 points | 8.6 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 39.2% 3P-shooting*Collin Sexton: 14.3 points | 2.9 assists | 2.0 rebounds | 39.3% 3P-shooting*Kelly Olynyk: 12.2 points | 6.1 rebounds | 3.6 assists | 39.1% 3P-shooting*Talen Horton-Tucker (Last 10 Games): 20.2 points | 6.3 assists | 5.2 rebounds

Oklahoma City (38-42, 15-25 away / No. 10 Western Conference)Offense*116.7 Points Per Game (No. 8 in NBA)*113.7 Offensive Rating (No. 21 in NBA)Defense*116.4 Points Per Game (No. 19 in NBA)*113.2 Defensive Rating (No. 11 in NBA)Individual*Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 31.4 points | 5.4 assists | 4.8 rebounds*Josh Giddey: 16.6 points | 7.9 rebounds | 6.1 assists*Jalen Williams: 14.1 points | 4.5 rebounds | 3.3 assists | 35.8% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Ochai Agbaji vs. Jalen Williams— After getting off to slow starts in their rookie seasons, Agbaji and Williams have really emerged over the second half of the season — even more post All-Star break. Agbaji is averaging 14.8 points on 41.8% from three over his past 10 games, while Williams is putting up 17.6 points on 42.3% shooting from deep over the same span. They also both get the job done defensively, which should make for a really entertaining battle.&nbsp;

INJURY REPORTUtahOUT | Lauri Markkanen (left hand contusion)OUT | Collin Sexton (left hamstring - injury maintenance )OUT | Jordan Clarkson (left hand - fourth finger sprain)OUT | Rudy Gay (low back soreness)OUT | Walker Kessler (concussion protocol)Oklahoma CityQUESTIONABLE | Luguentz Dort (Right Shoulder; Strain)OUT | Chet Holmgren (Right Foot; Surgery)OUT |&nbsp; Aleksej Pokusevski (Left Knee; Contusion)OUT | Kenrich Williams (Left Wrist; Scapholunate Ligament Surgery)

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;7:00 p.m. MTLocation: Vivint Arena |Salt Lake City, UTTV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;The Zone Sports Network

they-are-locked-in-with-its-postseason-hopes-on-the-line-utah-hosts-oklahoma-city-on-thursday

"They Are Locked In" | With Its Postseason Hopes On The Line, Utah Hosts Oklahoma City On Thursday

With Utah's playoff chances hanging by a thread, the Jazz could be getting a massive boost on Tuesday night against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers.&nbsp;

After being out for the past eight weeks, Collin Section is officially listed as QUESTIONABLE on the injury report. While it's unknown if Sexton will be cleared to take the court, this is a very encouraging sign for both the Jazz and their point guard.

Sexton has been out since before the All-Star break, injuring a hamstring against Memphis on Feb. 15. Four minutes into the game and after a tough drive to the hoop, he came up hobbling — and has been out ever since.&nbsp;

Sexton's left hamstring strain has been an enormous source of frustration for the point guard, which is why he's been out much longer than initially expected. The Jazz have brought him back slowly, not risking a serious injury, so he can approach this offseason fully healthy.&nbsp;

"Very frustrating. … Very, very frustrating," Sexton said. "I don't want to have to ever revisit a hamstring issue. … So now we're just trying to correct everything and get everything right and moving forward. We know what works for me and works for my body so that we can make sure that we don't have to miss games moving forward."

The timing of the injury was also terrible luck, as he had officially taken over the starting role just games before disaster struck.&nbsp;

Utah had just traded Mike Conley — and a slew of other players — to Minnesota as part of a three-team deal back on Feb. 8, opening up Utah's starting point guard spot. Sexton had been the team's sixth man for most of the season up to that point, but with Conley gone, he would have a more significant role.&nbsp;

Over the next four games, Sexton averaged 19.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, numbers significantly higher than his season averages up to that point.

But there were still parts of his game that he needed to work on, and serving as the team's starting point guard over the final 25+ games of the season seemed like an excellent opportunity to get those reps.

"When he's on the court playing, it's about the balancing act of attacking to score and attacking to create shots for his teammates," head coach Will Hardy said of Sexton. "That's what he's going to continue to have to work on. … It's easy for me to sit here and talk about that, but the speed with which Collin is attacking the basket and the force with which he plays, those decisions have to be made in very quick timeframes."

It's an important game for both teams battling for postseason positioning.&nbsp;

Utah sits in 12th place in the standings but remains just 1.5 games out of 10th and the final play-in tournament spot. Los Angeles is in 7th place but is tied in the loss column with the 5th-place Clippers.&nbsp;

A win by the Jazz keeps their slim hopes alive, while a victory for the Lakers would take them out of the play-in and into the top six.&nbsp;

"We're working day and night, early in the morning, even before practice and before shootarounds to get back and also to work on my craft," Sexton said. "We've just been trying to do other things in the weight room and on the court to continue to simulate game reps so when I do come back, I can just fit right in and be ready to go. … I feel like I've gotten better even though I haven't played games."

STATSUtah (36-42, 22-16 home / No. 12 Western Conference)Offense*117.1 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*115.6 Offensive Rating (No. 8 in NBA)

Los Angeles (40-38, 19-20 away / No. 7 Western Conference)Offense*116.7 Points Per Game (No. 8 in NBA)*113.7 Offensive Rating (No. 21 in NBA)Defense*116.4 Points Per Game (No. 19 in NBA)*113.2 Defensive Rating (No. 11 in NBA)Individual*LeBron James: 28.8 points | 8.5 rebounds | 6.9 assists | 30.3% 3P-shooting*Anthony Davis: 26.6 points | 12.4 rebounds | 2.5 assists | 2.0 blocks*D’Angelo Russell: 17.1 points | 6.3 assists | 3.0 rebounds | 39.8% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Markkanen/Horton-Tucker vs. James/Davis— With both teams battling for the playoff lives, it’s going to come down a star-studded showdown on Tuesday night. James and Davis have been stars for most of the season, and are widely considered one of the best duos in the game. But Markkanen (29) and Horton-Tucker (29.3) are combining to average just under 60 points per game over their past four games.

INJURY REPORTUtahQUESTIONABLE | Lauri Markkanen (left hand contusion)QUESTIONABLE | Collin Sexton (left hamstring strain)OUT | Jordan Clarkson (left hand - fourth finger sprain)OUT | Rudy Gay (low back soreness)OUT | Walker Kessler (concussion protocol)Los AngelesPROBABLE | Anthony Davis (right foot stress injury)PROBABLE | D’Angelo Russell (left foot soreness)QUESTIONABLE | LeBron James (right foot soreness)OUT | Mo Bamba (left ankle sprain)OUT | Scotty Pippen Jr. (G League - Two-Way)

ready-to-go-sexton-listed-as-questionable-when-utah-starts-final-homestand-against-los-angeles

"Ready To Go" | Sexton Listed As Questionable When Utah Starts Final Homestand Against Los Angeles

It's rare for a head coach to learn something new about his team in the 77th game of the season — yet that was precisely the situation for Will Hardy and the Jazz found themselves in on Friday night in Boston.&nbsp;

In fact, it wasn't so much that Hardy discovered something new about his team, but instead, he saw something he hadn't seen before.

Despite playing without their top three leading scorers, Utah refused to back down from a physical Celtics squad. Not only did they not back down, but they were also just as physical with the Celtics throughout the game.&nbsp;

"I'm not disappointed by our team tonight at all," he said following the 122-114 loss. "I thought they had backbone, they fought, they didn't back down. The game got chippy, both teams were a little bit chippy. Nobody was dirty in any way. … That's just a really hard-fought competitive NBA game."

It may have been the 77th game of the season, but seeing his team respond to one of the more physical teams in the league is something Hardy believes will make his team significantly better as the years go on. It's even more impressive considering the environment the Jazz played in, as the TD Center in Boston is as raucous and passionate as there is in the league.

"I'm all for the fight. … I'm not for fighting," he said. "There are moments in sports where it is chippy, and guys get tangled up, and guys start chirping, and I'm glad that our team doesn't back down."

In the end, there were four technical fouls — two each by Utah and Boston — and one flagrant given out. Kris Dunn was ejected after being given his second technical, but Hardy understands that sometimes, it's part of the game.&nbsp;

"I understand that sometimes the emotions get the best of you," Hardy said of Dunn. "He didn't throw a punch, he didn't do anything outrageous, he just kept the talk going. … The worst thing that can happen is a bench-clearing fight, so I understand the officials at that point were doing what they had to do to get everybody out of the gym safely."

With just five games to go and the Jazz need to go 5-0 or 4-1 (at worst) to make a real push for one of the play-in spots, Hardy is happy seeing his team refuse to wilt to more physical opponents. On Sunday, he expects the same sort of effort and mentality when Utah closes its three-game road trip with a matinee showdown against the new-look Nets in Brooklyn.&nbsp;

STATSUtah (36-41, 14-25 away / No. 12 Western Conference)Offense*117.2 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*115.7 Offensive Rating (No. 7 in NBA)Defense*117.9 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)*116.1 Defensive Rating (No. 25 in NBA)Individual*Lauri Markkanen: 25.7 points | 8.6 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 39.6% 3P-shooting*Kelly Olynyk: 12.2 points | 5.9 rebounds | 3.6 assists | 38.4% 3P-shooting*Talen Horton-Tucker (Last 10 Games): 19.3 points | 6.6 assists | 5.8 rebounds*Walker Kessler (Last 10 Games): 13.9 points | 9.9 rebounds | 3.0 blocks

Brooklyn (42-35, 21-16 home/ No. 6 Eastern Conference)Offense*113.7 Points Per Game (No. 17 in NBA)*114.9 Offensive Rating (No. 10 in NBA)Defense*112.8 Points Per Game (No. 13 in NBA)*113.7 Defensive Rating (No. 16 in NBA)Individual*Mikal Bridges: 27.5 points | 4.6 rebounds | 2.7 assists | 43.4% 3P-shooting*Spencer Dinwiddie: 16.8 points | 8.5 assists | 4.1 rebounds*Nic Claxton: 12.6 points | 9.2 rebounds | 2.5 blocks | 70.4% shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Walker Kessler vs. Nic Claxton— Two of the better and more impactful defensive centers in the league go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon when Walker Kessler faces Nic Claxton. Both of them are integral and vital to the success of each team on both ends of the court, but their true impact lies in their ability to protect the rim.&nbsp;

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;1:30 p.m. MTLocation: Barclays Center |Brooklyn, NYTV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;The Zone Sports Network

im-all-for-the-fight-jazz-wrap-up-road-trip-with-pivotal-sunday-matinee-showdown-against-brooklyn

"I'm All For The Fight" | Jazz Wrap Up Road Trip With Pivotal Sunday Matinee Showdown Against Brooklyn

Following Monday’s loss to Phoenix, Utah head coach Will Hardy sat down for his postgame media conference and expressed frustration after what had just unfolded over the previous 48 minutes of game time.

“I feel for our guys tonight,” he said, exasperated. “I’m frustrated for them because I think they came into tonight’s game with a good mindset. I think they tried to move the ball, I think we went through long stretches of time where we couldn’t make shots. … That tends to make people antsy.”

It was a rare “outburst” from Hardy, if it can even be called that. The normally stoic coach typically uses humor to move on from difficult losses, such as his approach to the shellacking received against Milwaukee just under a week ago.&nbsp;

“We almost had them,” he told his team sarcastically after their 28-point loss to the Bucks last Friday.

Hardy’s postgame talk on Monday differed from others in the past because he struggled to find a reason why the team lost. Sure, they struggled to knock down open shots despite executing their offense at a high rate — but this team has overcome that in the past when doing all of the other things right, which they did.

“You hear people say all the time, ‘It’s a make or miss league at times.’ I’m not always a believer in that,” he said. “There are moments where the ball does need to go in a few times in order to help you regain the rhythm of the game. … It’s hard to play a game when you’re going through long stretches of not scoring.”

For Utah, it’s about turning the page and controlling what they can moving forward. There are still seven games left in the regular season, which means there are seven more opportunities for this time to gain more experience playing together on the court and, possibly, make one last push toward the postseason.

That starts with Wednesday’s showdown against the undermanned Spurs in San Antonio, the first of three straight on the road.&nbsp;

“You’re gonna have bad nights. … That’s expected,” Kessler said. “I just don’t like to lose in general, so every loss is not a pleasant experience. … But you can’t let it get you down too much.”

Hardy also alluded to changes coming to Utah’s rotation, especially after his second unit struggled to score in the early minutes of the fourth quarter against Phoenix. It would help that Simone Fontecchio is expected to return to action, but he’ll most likely do so in the starting lineup as Lauri Markkanen is OUT against the Spurs.

“We’ve got to figure out offensively what we’re going to do with that group to try to generate some easier baskets,” he said. “Some of that’s gonna take a little bit of time, but we don’t have time. … We’ve got to figure out a way as a staff to help that group generate some better shots. We may need to look at changing up the substitution patterns a little bit and trying to mix that group some.”

STATSUtah (35-40, 13-24 away / No. 12 Western Conference)Offense*117.3 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*115.8 Offensive Rating (No. 6 in NBA)Defense*117.8 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)*116.2 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Individual*Kelly Olynyk: 12.2 points | 5.9 rebounds | 3.6 assists | 38.5% 3P-shooting*Walker Kessler (Last 10 Games): 13.7 points | 9.9 rebounds | 3.1 blocks*Ochai Agbaji (Last 10 Games): 12.9 points | 2.8 rebounds | 39.4% 3P-shooting*Simone Fontecchio (Last 10 games): 12.3 points | 40.4% 3P-shooting

San Antonio (19-56, 13-25 home/ No. 14 Western Conference)Offense*113.7 Points Per Game (No. 18 in NBA)*114.4 Offensive Rating (No. 13 in NBA)Defense*112.0 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*112.6 Defensive Rating (No. 8 in NBA)Individual*Devonte Graham: 14.0 points | 4.3 assists | 2.6 rebounds | 36.5% 3P-shooting*Tre Jones: 12.4 points | 6.3 assists | 3.5 rebounds*Zach Collins: 11.4 points | 6.3 rebounds | 2.8 assists | 38.2% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Walker Kessler vs. Zach Collins— It’s been quite a past few games for Kessler, dropping a career-high 31 points against Sacramento before tying a career-high with seven blocks against Phoenix. He’ll be called upon again on Wednesday night as San Antonio has nobody who can match his size and length in its frontcourt — which puts all the pressure on Zach Collins.

INJURY REPORTUtahAVAILABLE | Simone Fontecchio (left foot - turf toe)AVAILABLE | Micah Potter (G League - Two-Way)OUT | Lauri Markkanen (left hand contusion)OUT | Jordan Clarkson (left hand - fourth finger sprain)OUT | Rudy Gay (low back soreness)OUT | Collin Sexton (left hamstring strain)San AntonioOUT | Charles Bassey (Left Patella; Non-displaced fracture)OUT | Khem Birch (Right knee; Chondromalacia)OUT | Keldon Johnson (Left Foot; Injury Management)OUT | Jeremy Sochan (Right Knee; Soreness)OUT | Devin Vassell (Left Knee; Injury Management)

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;6:00 p.m. MTLocation: AT&T Center |San Antonio, TXTV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;The Zone Sports Network

a-good-mindset-utah-kicks-off-three-game-road-trip-with-undermanned-contest-against-san-antonio

"A Good Mindset" | Utah Kicks Off Three-Game Road Trip With Undermanned Contest Against San Antonio

With just eight games left in the regular season, what else is there to say about Walker Kessler?

It's been a sensational season for the rookie big man, accomplishing things on the court that haven't been done in 30 years. He's been named a Rookie of the Month and has helped lead in their push to the postseason.&nbsp;

Yet he topped it all with a career night on Saturday against Sacramento.&nbsp;

With Utah down its three leading scorers, Kessler nearly led the Jazz to the upset victory when he dropped a career-high 31 points on 14-of-16 shooting from the floor. He also added 11 rebounds, two assists, and one block, finishing with his 19th double-double of the season.&nbsp;

"I'm always gonna play hard," Kessler said. "So tonight just happened to happen to go well. … My teammates found me in the right spots, so I appreciate that a lot."

"He was huge," Kelly Olynyk added. "A great, great game by him, great effort. "When he runs the floor like that and puts pressure on the rim, that vertical spacing where you can just throw it up where other guys can't get it, that's a huge advantage for us."

What made Kessler's night even more impressive was how he went about his scoring. Usually a rim-running lob threat, Kessler showed off an array of offensive moves where he put the ball on the court to create for himself. He showed the ability to catch the ball in traffic and finish strong, as well as impressive footwork.

"He contributes to winning," Hardy said. "You don't see a ton of rookies coming in and contribute to winning. … You don't see a ton of rookies come in and immediately make an impact. He's done that."

While this season may seem like a dream to Kessler, it's not as if he knew he couldn't accomplish such goals. He dropped a double-double coming off the bench in a season-opening victory over Denver, and then became the first rookie to drop a 20-point, 20-rebound double in the last decade just a month later.&nbsp;

"I always had this belief in me, but I just wanted to learn," Kessler said. "I went into this year trying to learn as much as I could so when I do get the opportunity, I can take advantage and try to help us win the game. I figured by doing that, the rest would take care of itself."

But while there have been highs, there have also been some lows. After the season-opener, Kessler failed to reach double digits again for a near month, including two games he was shut out.&nbsp;

"After that double-double, I was like, 'that was hard, but it wasn't impossible,'" he said. "But then I got humbled the next day, so you know, it goes hand in hand. … I learned that in the NBA, you can't let one bad game compound to the next game."

Kessler will look to help Utah's push to the postseason when the Jazz host the Phoenix on Monday night. The good news is that help could be on the way as Lauri Markkanen, out the past two games, has been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE for the showdown.&nbsp;

STATSUtah (35-39, 22-15 home / No. 12 Western Conference)Offense*117.3 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*115.8 Offensive Rating (No. 6 in NBA)Defense*117.8 Points Per Game (No. 24 in NBA)*116.2 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Individual*Lauri Markkanen: 25.7 points | 8.6 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 40.0% 3P-shooting*Kelly Olynyk: 12.3 points | 5.9 rebounds | 3.5 assists | 39.0% 3P-shooting*Walker Kessler (Last 10 Games): 13.6 points | 10.1 rebounds | 2.9 blocks*Ochai Agbaji (Last 10 Games): 13.4 points | 2.5 rebounds | 36.9% 3P-shooting

Phoenix (39-35, 15-23 away / No. 4 Western Conference)Offense*113.7 Points Per Game (No. 18 in NBA)*114.4 Offensive Rating (No. 13 in NBA)Defense*112.0 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*112.6 Defensive Rating (No. 8 in NBA)Individual*Devin Booker: 28.2 points | 5.4 assists | 4.6 rebounds | 36.8% 3P-shooting*Deandre Ayton: 18.3 points | 10.1 rebounds | 58.9% shooting*Chris Paul: 13.6 points | 9.1 assists | 1.6 steals | 36.4% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Walker Kessler vs. Deandre Ayton— Coming off the best game of his career when he showed a different an array of offensive skills to drop a career-high 31 points, Kessler should have his hands full when he goes up against Ayton on Monday night. The two big men have the ability to influence the game on either end of the court, which should make for a thrilling showdown.  

always-gonna-play-hard-utah-returns-home-to-face-phoenix-in-a-key-battle-for-postseason-positioning

"Always Gonna Play Hard" | Utah Returns Home To Face Phoenix In a Key Battle For Postseason Positioning

It feels like the Jazz have had to play with their backs against the wall all season long.&nbsp;

Very few people outside of Utah's locker room believed this team would be any good this year. They assumed that with a rookie head coach leading a team with 10 new players — most of them past their prime or not close to reaching it — they had no real chance to compete in what was expected to be a really competitive Western Conference.&nbsp;

The media got one thing right — the West is competitive. They just didn't realize how competitive the Jazz were going to be.&nbsp;

"I love this team," head coach Will Hardy said following Monday night's victory over Sacramento. "It's not easy to go into a season where everybody's telling you that you're not very good. They like how scrappy and tough (they are). … They like that they never go away in a game. They haven't backed off one bit, they haven't given in ever. … I'm proud of the guys and how they have carried themselves the whole year."

Part of what's made the Jazz so special this season is that they're taken on the identity of a team that will play for a full 48 minutes. Regardless of who's on the court, Utah will play hard, which has given multiple players the opportunity to step up.

"The thing I continue to be most proud of with this team is that every night it just seems like different people continue to step up and continue to use the opportunities that are given to them," Hardy said.&nbsp;

"We just play hard," Kelly Olynyk added. "We play together, everyone that's here has bought in, and it's been fun going out there and competing together. Will (Hardy) has obviously done a great job of putting in spots to compete and be successful, and guys are playing to their strengths. … It's been fun to do, and hopefully, we can keep it going."

Utah will need a variety of players to step up when they face the Milwaukee Bucks, the team with the league's best record, on Friday night.&nbsp;

While Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson have been out all or most of the time since the All-Star break, Lauri Markkanen has helped carry this team by playing at an All-NBA level. However, he will miss Friday's showdown — and maybe more — while dealing with a left-hand contusion suffered a while ago but reaggravated following a physical game against Portland on Wednesday.

"It's been just getting hit for a month," he said. "So just seeing what you can play through, and even though my wrists hurt I can do other things. Once you get going, you don't really think about it, but then, obviously, dead balls and stuff. It happened again, but, I mean, we'll see."

STATSUtah (35-37, 22-14 home / No. 12 Western Conference)Offense*117.4 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*116.0 Offensive Rating (No. 6 in NBA)Defense*117.4 Points Per Game (No. 23 in NBA)*115.9 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Individual*Kelly Olynyk: 12.1 points | 5.8 rebounds | 3.4 assists | 39.2% 3P-shooting*Kris Dunn: 12.0 points | 5.2 assists | 4.4 rebounds | 43.5% 3P-shooting*Walker Kessler (Last 10 Games): 11.6 points | 10.9 rebounds | 3.2 blocks*Ochai Agbaji (Last 10 Games): 12.5 points | 2.4 rebounds | 37.1% 3P-shooting

Milwaukee (52-20, 22-13 away / No. 1 Eastern Conference)Offense*116.4 Points Per Game (No. 9 in NBA)*113.9 Offensive Rating (No. 17 in NBA)Defense*112.1 Points Per Game (No. 5 in NBA)*109.7 Defensive Rating (No. 1 in NBA)Individual*Giannis Antetokounmpo: 31.2 points | 11.9 rebounds | 5.5 assists*Jrue Holiday: 19.0 points | 7.3 assists | 5.0 rebounds | 37.5% 3P-shooting*Brook Lopez: 15.6 points | 6.6 rebounds | 2.5 blocks | 37.7% 3P-shooting*Bobby Portis: 13.9 points | 9.6 rebounds | 34.8% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Walker Kessler vs. Brook Lopez— Two of the best rim protectors in the league go head-to-head on Friday night when rookie Walker Kessler faces Defensive Player of the Year candidate Brook Lopez. Both teams run defensive schemes that allow the big men to thrive in their roles, which is a big part of why they’ve been able to find success this season.&nbsp;

we-play-together-utah-to-be-extremely-shorthanded-when-hosting-milwaukee-on-friday-night

"We Play Together" | Utah To Be Extremely Shorthanded When Hosting Milwaukee On Friday Night

Just minutes into his introductory press conference after being named Utah's head coach in June, Will Hardy talked about three traits he wants to identify the Jazz.

"Toughness, sacrifice, and passion are the three things that are most important to me," he said. "I want our group to be deeply competitive and able to deal with adversity. I would like for everybody to recognize that this is bigger than them individually."

Now 71 games into his rookie season, there's one more identifying factor that Hardy might want to add: fun.&nbsp;

"If they were 16 years old, their dream was to make it to the NBA. … Right now, they're in the middle of a dream, and you're allowed to enjoy it," he said. "This should be the best time in your life. There's a day where it's all over, you'll look back and it's all just memories at that point."

"We try our best to remind the players that you can be competitive, you can be professional, you can care about winning, you care about all the right stuff, and you can enjoy it. … You can be a 23-year-old professional basketball player in the middle of your dream."

While believing life in the league should be fun, Hardy fully understands it's a results-based career. That means that the pressure is always mounting, there's always something to play for.

"Everybody's trying to succeed, trying to win, trying to make a name for themselves," Hardy said. "In some ways, guys are trying to solidify themselves in the league, getting contracts and things like that. I think there's a lot of pressure from fans, media, there's high expectations. … It's a highly scrutinized business, and I think we understand that."

But just because the Jazz take their job seriously, always striving for perfection while still feeling the pain of defeat, it doesn't mean they can't enjoy the journey. It's why Hardy has music blaring throughout practices and meetings, he's always cracking little jokes, and he's constantly seen with a smile on his face.&nbsp;

"It's like if you're laughing and smiling, then you're being goofy, and you don't care about winning," he said. "I just don't think that those two things are mutually exclusive. … I think you can do both."

The joy that Hardy preaches and practices have never been more apparent than following Utah's last two victories over Boston and Sacramento. The Jazz entered shorthanded in both games and, through grit and determination, were able to win in the closing minutes.&nbsp;

"I love this team," Hardy said Monday night. "It's not easy to go into a season where everybody's telling you that you're not very good. They like how scrappy and tough (they are). … They like that they never go away in a game. They haven't backed off one bit, they haven't given in ever. … I'm proud of the guys and how they have carried themselves the whole year."

Utah will look to keep the good vibes going when they host Portland on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

STATSUtah (35-36, 22-13 home / No. 10 Western Conference)Offense*117.4 Points Per Game (No. 6 in NBA)*116.1 Offensive Rating (No. 6 in NBA)Defense*117.3 Points Per Game (No. 22 in NBA)*115.8 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Individual*Lauri Markkanen: 25.4 points | 8.6 rebounds | 1.8 assists | 40.2% 3P-shooting*Kelly Olynyk: 12.1 points | 5.7 rebounds | 3.4 assists | 40.1% 3P-shooting*Kris Dunn: 11.7 points | 5.4 assists | 4.3 rebounds | 45.5% 3P-shooting

Portland (31-40, 14-22 away / No. 13 Western Conference)Offense*114.2 Points Per Game (No. 15 in NBA)*115.4 Offensive Rating (No. 9 in NBA)Defense*116.1 Points Per Game (No. 18 in NBA)*117.3 Defensive Rating (No. 27 in NBA)Individual*Damian Lillard: 32.2 points | 7.2 assists | 4.7 rebounds | 37.3% 3P-shooting*Jusuf Nurkic: 13.2 points | 9.2 rebounds | 2.8 assists | 36.0% 3P-shooting*Cam Reddish: 11.8 points | 3.1 rebounds | 2.2 assists | 34.2% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Talen Horton-Tucker vs. Damian Lillard— Ever since taking over the starting point guard spot for the Jazz, Horton-Tucker has been sensational. He’s averaging 17 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in March, proof just how far he’s come after adjusting to the role this season. Meanwhile, Lillard is playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 34.8 points since the All-Star break.&nbsp;

youre-allowed-to-enjoy-it-utah-looks-to-keep-having-fun-when-hosting-portland-on-wednesday

"You're Allowed To Enjoy It" | Utah Looks To Keep 'Having Fun' When Hosting Portland On Wednesday

Following Saturday’s stunning victory over Boston, Lauri Markkanen had many reasons to laugh and smile.&nbsp;

Not only did the Jazz win in comeback fashion, but he also dropped a game-high 28 points. He also finished with his 27th double-double of the year, dropping 12 points in the pivotal fourth quarter. Markkanen also won the battle with Boston’s Jayson Tatum, further making his case for All-NBA consideration.&nbsp;

Despite all of the winning moments from Saturday, what got Markkanen celebrating the most was what happened postgame. He gave a double fist pump and a laugh when asked about head coach Will Hardy’s words referring to the ‘Senior Council.’

“One of them wears a backwards hat a lot. … And the other one is from Finland,” Hardy said about the two members.&nbsp;

Those comments came on the heels of Utah going back to a zone defense, a concept they haven’t run since early in the season. Hardy elected to switch things up against the Celtics midway through the second quarter, and it proved to be one heck of a decision. The Jazz not only won the remaining quarters, but they also watched Boston’s point total go down every quarter.&nbsp;

“I was talked into bringing it back and giving it some more love by a couple of Senior Council members on the team,” Hardy said. “So we decided to bring it back and work on it some more. We worked on it the last couple days of practice and thought it’d be a fun opportunity to try to bring it out.”

When told of those comments, Markkanen was thrilled to receive the credit — and even more that the 25-year-old was referred to as a “senior” team member.&nbsp;

“I guess when the old guys say we are going to try and something, we’re going to try it out,” Markkanen said. “Chaos. … I’m not going to give a scouting report, but I’m sure it was pretty obvious. It’s us working together, flying around, messing with their rhythm, and making them hesitate on their decision-making.”

"We definitely advocated for it," Kelly Olynyk, one of the senior council members, said. "I mean, we were probably one of the tallest front courts in the NBA.”

Markkanen and Olynyk can be as thrilled as they want following that victory, but the real win came from Hardy.&nbsp;

In his first season, he’s already established and built a culture within the program; the Jazz are going to play hard, they’re going to play for 48 minutes. There’s also an insane amount of trust between the coach and his players, one that allows ideas to be curated and made possible on both ends.

“He’s awesome,” Olynyk said of Hardy. “He’s super open-minded, he’s an outside-the-box thinker and loves that kind of stuff and all the different opportunities and possibilities. … I think he’s someone who you can approach, and he’ll really take your suggestions into consideration.”

“You know, sometimes you go to a restaurant, and you see a suggestion box, and you never really know if those get read, but he’ll read every one of them. … Gotta love it.”

Utah will look to continue its push to the postseason when they face the Sacramento Kings on Monday night — a big game for both teams as they’re each battling for playoff positioning.&nbsp;

The Jazz are tangled up with six teams battling for the four spots in the play-in tournament, with only two games separating No. 7 Golden State and No. 12 New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Kings are tied with Memphis for the No. 2 seed — and sit just 3.5 games back of the struggling Nuggets.&nbsp;

Sacramento (43-27, 22-13 away / No. 2 Western Conference)Offense*121.1 Points Per Game (No. 1 in NBA)*118.7 Offensive Rating (No. 1 in NBA)Defense*118.2 Points Per Game (No. 27 in NBA)*115.8 Defensive Rating (No. 24 in NBA)Individual*De’Aaron Fox: 25.3 points | 6.2 assists | 4.3 rebounds | 33.1% 3P-shooting*Domantas Sabonis: 19.2 points | 12.5 rebounds | 7.2 assists | 35.5% 3P-shooting*Kevin Huerter: 15.0 points | 3.2 rebounds | 2.9 assists | 40.8% 3P-shooting*Harrison Barnes: 15.0 points | 4.7 rebounds | 37.1% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Ochai Agbaji vs. Kevin Huerter— In a matchup that will feature three potential All-NBA candidates, arguably the most important battle will come down to the three-point shooting of Agbaji and Huerter. Their ability to stretch the floor opens is vital to the success of the offenses — which is a large reason why both teams are top five offenses.

INJURY REPORTUtahQUESTIONABLE | Lauri Markkanen (back soreness)OUT | Jordan Clarkson (left hand - fourth finger sprain)OUT | Micah Potter (G League - Two-Way)OUT | Collin Sexton (left hamstring strain)SacramentoOUT | Neemias Queta (G League - Two-Way)QUESTIONABLE | Kevin Huerter (right popliteus strain)QUESTIONABLE | Trey Lyles (right shoulder soreness)

gotta-love-it-despite-being-shorthanded-utah-looks-to-continue-postseason-push-against-sacramento

"Gotta Love It" | Despite Being Shorthanded, Utah Looks To Continue Postseason Push Against Sacramento

none

Presented By:

Delta

<strong>Tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors has been postponed. <a href="https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-vs-golden-state-warriors-postponed">Learn More &gt;</a></strong>