NBA Preseason

Ryan Kostecka

Make no mistake: the Utah Jazz want to win every game.&nbsp;

But during the preseason, winning isn’t the ultimate goal. With so many questions surrounding the team ahead of their season opener against Sacramento on Oct. 25, head coach Will Hardy has said that the preseason will be about answering those questions.&nbsp;

Using a different group of starters in both the first and second half, the Jazz fell 103-98 to the Clippers on Tuesday night in Seattle. It was the second time the teams have faced off in the past three nights, with Utah taking game one in Hawaii on Saturday night.&nbsp;

Here are five things to know from Tuesday’s game.

1.) Same Starting FiveFor the first two games, head coach Will Hardy elected to go with Collin Sexton and Talen Horton-Tucker as the starting guards. Some expected Hardy to try multiple starting duos over the preseason, but he went with the same group that helped get the win in game one. 

Jordan Clarkson and Ochai Agbaji were the next backcourt duo to enter the game, followed by Kris Dunn and Keyonte George — all of them played at least six minutes in the first half with Hardy implementing multiple three-guard lineups.

Altogether, Hardy is still trying to figure out which duo works best with the starting frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Walker Kessler, and then who shines alongside Kelly Olynyk with the second unit.

“Having guys like that around is always going to be good for us, especially being in a battle every day against each other. … Iron sharpens iron,” Horton-Tucker said.

2.) Clarkson Resumes Sixth Man RoleClarkson has played off the bench for Utah’s first two preseason games after starting every game he played last year. 

Given his career season last year, he showed why he’s so valuable as a scoring option off the bench. He erupted for a personal 8-0 run early in the second quarter, turning what looked like a blowout in the making to a two-point deficit.&nbsp;

He’s elusive at getting to any spot he wants on the floor, especially in the paint. Once there, his footwork is so superb that he can finish over smaller defenders or around bigger ones. That sort of shot-making is invaluable off the bench in the NBA.&nbsp;

3.) Different Team With DunnOn Saturday night, Dunn didn’t see action until the second half. But after an impressive performance — 15 points, 5 assists — Dunn found himself on the court to start the second quarter against the Clippers on Tuesday. 

After a slog of a first quarter in which Utah never seemed to find a rhythm, the team looked different with Dunn running the point. Not only is he the most ‘pure’ point guard on the roster, but his veteran leadership appeared to calm the team down. He got Utah organized into the sets on offense, and although the shots weren’t falling, the Jazz were getting good looks.&nbsp;

Interestingly enough, Hardy elected to go with Dunn and Clarkson in the backcourt over the final three minutes of the first half, playing alongside Markkanen, Kessler, and Collins.&nbsp;

4.) Collins Finding His WayAfter being the major offseason acquisition for the Jazz, Collins is still trying to find a rhythm and get more comfortable with his new teammates. 

The natural ability is there, especially if his three-point shooting can return to his earlier years in Atlanta when he was around 40% for three straight years. His athleticism jumps out immediately, being able to run the floor on offense while defending forwards and centers.&nbsp;

5.) Horton-Tucker Makes It Rain In SeattleHorton-Tucker showed in the second half why he ended the 2022-23 season with such momentum. After coming off the bench in the third quarter, Horton-Tucker was dominant when he erupted for 20 points (24 total) before checking out for good midway through the fourth. 

Horton-Tucker used an array of finishes that brought the Seattle crowd to its feet multiple times, including a 360 layup off of a pass from Simone Fontecchio, and a pair of threes.

Despite being just two games into the preseason, Horton-Tucker looked comfortable and had his best moments leading Utah’s second unit, an impressive showing from the 22-year-old.&nbsp;

“Started off pretty slow in the first half, so I wanted to come out with some energy,” Horton-Tucker said. “With it being the preseason, I’m just wanting to knock off some of the rust. … But overall, just really trying to come out and play hard.”

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"Knock Off Some Of The Rust" | Five Things To Know From Utah's Loss To The Clippers

Although it may have been the first preseason game the year of the Jazz, it wasn’t inconsequential for a team with questions that need to be answered as the start of the regular season looms large in two weeks. 

Using a second-half comeback — something Utah became known for last year — the Jazz took down the LA Clippers 101-96 on Sunday night at SimpliFi Arena at the University of Hawaii.

“Obviously, there’s plenty of good, plenty of bad. … We have a lot to clean up, that’s for sure,” head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “I was proud of the way everybody competed. … We worked a lot on situational parts of the game. To come out in the first game and end up having a tight game down the stretch, and the crowd got into it, it got a little hectic, but I thought our guys stayed composed.”

Here are five things to know from the victory.&nbsp;

1.) Hardy Goes Young In The BackcourtNaturally, most of the eyes of Jazz Nation were focused on which duo would get the start in the backcourt on Sunday night — and the answer surprised quite a few. 

Collin Sexton and Talen Horton-Tucker got the nod against the Clippers, showing moments of growth in their new roles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Although he didn’t shoot the ball the greatest, Sexton looked comfortable as a facilitator. He tied for the team lead with five assists, doing most of his damage in transition. Horton-Tucker finished with a team-high 13 shots, but added six rebounds and went 3-of-7 from deep.

While it’s assumed that Hardy will test multiple combinations in the backcourt from a starting standpoint over the next few weeks of preseason, Sexton and Horton-Tucker getting the nod in the opener proves how good they’ve looked throughout the summer and training camp. 

2.) Utah Is Long And Athletic In The FrontcourtThe biggest thing — quite literally — that stood out to me against the Clippers was how long and athletic the Jazz were in the frontcourt. The combination of Walker Kessler at center and Lauri Markkanen and John Collins at the forward spots can be one of the better frontcourts in the league once everyone settles into their roles. 

Kessler looked in midseason form with five blocks and seven rebounds in just 24 minutes. While his shot was off, Markkanen still finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in limited action. And although he looked lost a few times while playing with his new teammates, Collins knocked down his only three of the game.

It’s widely expected that this will be the team’s starting frontcourt on Oct. 25, and once they get more comfortable playing with one another, the potential goes through the roof. 

3.) Dunn Shines In Second HalfAfter watching from the bench while Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George, and Ochai Agbaji got minutes in the first half, Kris Dunn got the call in the final 24 minutes — and he thrived. He was Utah’s best pure point guard on the night, showing the ability to execute the offense at a high level as the Jazz outscored the Clippers 58-46 in the second half. 

Dunn was in control from the second he stepped onto the court, finishing with 15 points, five assists, and two steals. On a non-guaranteed deal entering this season, Dunn’s high-level play could be a big storyline over the next few weeks if he keeps this up.&nbsp;

“Kris, having sat for a while in the game, came in and gave us a huge lift,” Hardy said. “He has a lot of experience, he’s a really good communicator, he understands situations in the game really well. … I thought he did a good job.”

4.) Growing Pains For The RookiesExpecting a rookie to come in and immediately contribute to a team looking to make the postseason is a tall task. Hardy and the Jazz know this, so they’ve been bringing along their three rookies slower than many expected. 

In Sunday’s first game, George was the only rookie to see action before the start of the fourth quarter. He had flashes of solid play, playing at an incredible pace, getting to the free throw line, and dishing out five assists (with 10 points). But he struggled defensively, getting backcut a few times that led to easy buckets.

Hendricks — who many of Jazz Nation had been curious about this summer — played the entire fourth quarter and also showed moments of highs and lows. He knocked down a three and grabbed four rebounds, but he was passive on defense — which was surprising given that was what many believed would be his immediate strength in the league.&nbsp;

Ultimately, it was the first game of their professional careers, so fans shouldn’t look into the outcome much. A lot can change over the next few weeks or months.&nbsp;

5.) Hawaii Shows OutThroughout Utah’s time in Hawaii for training camp over the past week, Hardy and the Jazz had spoken openly about how great the fans in Hawaii had been. From the scheduled team events to the open scrimmage during practice, basketball fans from the 50th state showed out consistently.

So when it came time for a real game between two teams, it wasn’t shocking that the environment inside SimpliFi Arena was rocking. In his opening statements with the media following the game, Hardy spoke about the crowd getting into the final moments and how it felt like a regular season game on the court.&nbsp;

Utah will now head south to play in another NBA-starved city in Seattle, where they will face the Clippers again on Tuesday night. 

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One of the Utah Jazz's core values is "community obsessed" and that extends beyond the state of Utah.&nbsp;

The Jazz and LA Clippers will donate all proceeds from their preseason opener to the Maui Strong Fund to benefit wildfire relief in Lahaina, Maui. The game will take place on Sunday, Oct. 8 and will tip off at 7 p.m. MT at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Māno.

“We are pleased to announce that all proceeds from our first preseason game with the Los Angeles Clippers, which will take place on Oahu on October 8, will be donated to the Maui Strong Fund to benefit wildfire relief,” the Jazz said in a statement. “In joining with the Clippers in Hawai’i, we are proud to work alongside the Hawai’i Tourism Authority in support of its residents and provide continued visibility of ongoing relief efforts. The Utah Jazz prioritize community stewardship as a core value and are focused on showing the greatest care and concern for the victims of the devastating Maui wildfires. We are proud to partner with the Clippers on this trip that will be so much bigger than basketball.”

The island of Maui was struck by a devastating fire earlier this month that ravaged thousands of acres. Among the territories hit hardest was the city of Lahaina, which was around 90% contained as of Wednesday morning — one of three fires not yet fully contained.&nbsp;

Utah will return to the islands for the first time since its last preseason visit in 2015. The team will spend a few days at BYU Hawaii for training camp before tipoff with the Clippers.

The preseason opener will also mark Utah’s return to KJZZ (Channel 14) as part of their new broadcast deal. The over-the-air station, which reaches all 3.3 million Utahns, will air all non-nationally televised Jazz games for the foreseeable future as "The Home of the Utah Jazz." During the broadcast, the Jazz will feature a special Hawaii program to showcase the island and provide additional support for all those affected.

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Utah To Donate Proceeds From First Preseason Game In Hawaii To Maui Strong Fund

Will Hardy understands the preseason isn't about winning and losing.&nbsp;

It's about growth, seeing progress day in and day out, and watching that progress play out on the court.

Although Utah's preseason ended on Friday night as the Jazz fell 115-101 to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks, Hardy was proud of how his team played.&nbsp;

"I'm actually really excited. … I like this group a lot," he said postgame. "I think they're capable of playing really good basketball."

Some of the progress Hardy was hoping to see was from the starters, who struggled mightily against San Antonio on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

With Mike Conley back in the lineup, the Jazz got off to a much better start. They were more cohesive on offense, finding open looks while getting out in transition. Defensively, they were the aggressors and brought physicality to the Mavericks. 

Lauri Markkanen had arguably his best game in a Jazz uniform, finishing with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. He finished 9-of-13 from the floor, showing the ability to score at multiple levels. His ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim at 7-feet tall while hitting shots from beyond the arc is why Utah is so high on the big man from Finland.&nbsp;

It was also quite the performance from veteran Rudy Gay, who turned back the clock to finish with 16 points and six rebounds. More than just a veteran presence on the team, Gay was phenomenal with pushing the tempo in transition and finding a way to get to his spots on the court.

The Jazz went toe-to-toe with Doncic and the Mavericks through three quarters, battling the whole time. It was a game of runs, as both teams had them, but no one could pull away.&nbsp;

Dallas got hot from three-point territory in the fourth quarter to take a 16-point lead, but Utah refused to go away. Thanks to plays by Walker Kessler and Talen Horton-Tucker, the Jazz got the game back to single digits before falling in the end.

While Markkanen and Gay were putting up the points, Conley showed how good he is as the leading man in Utah's backcourt. Although he shot just 2-of-8 from the floor, he finished with seven points and seven assists, running Hardy's new offense to perfection.&nbsp;

Kessler continued his stellar preseason as a rookie, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jarred Vanderbilt added eight points and eight rebounds.&nbsp;

Utah now has four days off before opening up the season against Denver on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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"I Like This Group A Lot" | Utah Shows Growth In Preseason Finale

Heading into his first season as head coach, Will Hardy knew there were bound to be growing pains for the Utah Jazz.

After all, just three of Utah’s top 10 rotation players returned this season. Add in 14 new players and the writing was on the wall about the potential ups-and-downs the Jazz would face this season.

But Hardy’s message through the trials and tribulations has always been simple — “play hard.” And that’s what Utah did on Tuesday night.

Despite trailing by 20 points entering the fourth quarter, Utah battled back to cut the deficit to six with just over three minutes to play. Unfortunately that was as close as they would get, falling 111-104 to San Antonio.

“We want to play a style of basketball that our fans are proud of,” Hardy said postgame. “We fought our way back (in the end), just couldn’t get over the hump.”

Going with a lineup consisting of Rudy Gay, Jared Butler, Simone Fontecchio, Walker Kessler and Talen Horton-Tucker, Utah played exactly how Hardy envisioned. The Jazz outscored San Antonio 31-18 in the final frame.

“I was really proud of that group,” Hardy said of the fourth quarter. “Their physicality, they continued to play through some mistakes, covered for each other on defense. It really bled into our offense. … They were able to find that rhythm of what we’re trying to do and what we’re working on in practice.”

Kessler, one of the key acquisitions in the Rudy Gobert trade, showed his valued skillset as the 7-foot rookie was a problem for the smaller Spurs. His ability to run the length of court, move his feet defensively, grab rebounds, and show soft hands on offense was a key component to the comeback.&nbsp;

“In the fourth quarter, he really found his identity and stuck to keeping it simple,” Hardy said of Kessler. “He played defense without fouling, protected the rim, rebound, and really ran. It’s a learning process for him. … He’ll watch film and continue to work.”

Kessler finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks in 25 minutes.&nbsp;

“I do recognize that I am a rookie, it is my third preseason game, and I didn’t get a summer league,” Kessler said. “I have to give myself some credit, but at the same time, do super well. … There’s a lot I can get better at.”

Despite the near-heroics in the end, the start of the game wasn’t what the Jazz were hoping for. Unable to contain San Antonio at the point of attack, Utah found itself down 39-26 after one.&nbsp;

Trailing by 19 midway through the second quarter, the Jazz went on an 11-2 run to keep the game from getting out of hand early. Jared Butler and Lauri Markkanen combined for nine of the points.

The Spurs began the second half on fire, going on a 9-0 run to lead by 25. But the Jazz refused to wilt, ending the quarter on an 11-6 run to set the stage for the drama-filled final 12 minutes.&nbsp;

Markkanen led Utah with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson added 12 points and seven assists. Butler was sensational with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Kelly Olynyk and Horton-Tucker added 10 points apiece.&nbsp;

The Jazz will wrap up their preseason slate when they face Dallas on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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With the NBA season set to begin in one week, Will Hardy and the Utah Jazz know how much work has to be done in order to be ready for the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 19.

Hardy and the Jazz will have the opportunity to showcase their growth two more times this preseason, beginning tonight with the San Antonio Spurs. Tipoff if set for 7 p.m. MST from Vivint Arena.

Here are three things to watch in Utah’s next two games.

1.) Rotation QuestionsWith just two games — 96 minutes of court time — left before the season opener, how Hardy elects to go through his rotations will be key heading into next week.

Mike Conley, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Olynyk all started the first two preseason games. Malik Beasley started the opener but Jordan Clarkson — the reigning sixth man of the year two seasons ago — got the nod against Portland.

With those six firmly entrenched in the rotation, Collin Sexton, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Walker Kessler have been the first players off the bench and gotten a significant amount of time on the court.&nbsp;

That’s nine players already — with more surely in the mix for minutes. Stanley Johnson, Cody Zeller, Ochai Agbaji, and Rudy Gay have all played well in spurts throughout the preseason, giving them the opportunity to carve out roles.

It’ll be interesting to see how Hardy navigates the upcoming two games, especially with the starters expected to play more minutes in order to ramp up conditioning before the start of the year.

2.) Defensive EffortOne of the issues that plagued the Jazz the most over the past couple of seasons was their struggles matching up defensively. 

With Hardy now taking over and nearly an entire new roster in uniform, he’s has made it a point to focus very heavily on the defensive side of the ball.

“Guard your yard,” was Olynyk’s response about the core value of Hardy’s defense.&nbsp;

Through the first two preseason games, it would appear that the Jazz are continuing to improve in that area.&nbsp;

After a rough opening against Toronto, Utah’s effort against Portland was significantly better. The Jazz appeared much more comfortable in rotations, as well as communication. There were less breakdowns and better closeouts, a great sign moving forward.

With only two games left in the preseason, Hardy will continue to want to see this defense evolve and get a little more complicated as time goes on.

3.) Late-Game ScenariosOver the past couple of seasons, it was clear that whenever the Jazz needed a bucket — particularly in crunch time — Donovan Mitchell would have the ball in his hands. 

But with Mitchell now taking over in Cleveland, it leaves Utah with a hole in late-game scenarios.&nbsp;

There are a number of players capable of creating their own shots like Markkanen, Sexton, and Clarkson. Conley is a phenomenal shooter and one of the best facilitators in the game.&nbsp;

How Hardy navigates shot clock and late-game management is definitely something to watch the rest of the week.

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Entering Vivint Arena on Saturday morning, many fans didn’t know what to expect.&nbsp;

It was their first time seeing head coach Will Hardy in person, as well as key newcomers like Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Jarred Vanderbilt. While Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley are extremely well-known, it was also the first time fans would be seeing the veterans in their new roles with a young and inexperienced Utah squad.&nbsp;

But when Jazz Nation left the arena a few hours later, it was clear that the excitement surrounding Hardy and the team is legit and continuing to build.

Throughout the 90 minute scrimmage, the players were able to captivate those in attendance with numerous jaw-dropping dunks, deep three-pointers, and one questionably-sang song. Altogether, the Jazz were able to perfectly blend competition and joy together as everyone appeared to have a great time. 

For those who weren’t able to be in attendance, the Jazz released a behind-the-scenes video of what went on throughout the day — including center Udoka Azubuike being mic’d up throughout the event.

Utah returns to action on Tuesday night when it hosts San Antonio in their third preseason game of the year. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.

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Utah Center Udoka Azubuike Mic'd Up For Jazz Open Scrimmage

After two games into Will Hardy's coaching tenure — albeit preseason games — it's clear that the rookie head coach has a vision. 

"I want a team that competes. … I want a team that cares about winning," Hardy said last week. "I understand that there are individual aspects to playing at this level, but I want people that are solely focused on winning basketball games for the Utah Jazz. We will be tough, we will play with passion, we will be a team."

Not only has he said as much since he was first hired in June, he's getting his players to buy into his philosophies on both ends of the court — never more evident than the amount of growth between the first two preseason games earlier this week.

"I think we were able to stick to our identity as a team on both ends for more of the 48 minutes tonight," Hardy said following Tuesday's victory over Portland. "Everybody who went into the game tonight played the way that we want to play. Tonight was sort of representative of how we're going to have to be this year. … It's a team effort."

Here are five things to know following Utah's first two preseason games.

1.) Rotation UnsettledOne of the most challenging things about coming in as a new coach — with 10 new players entering the fold — is figuring out the starters and rotation players. Hardy admitted as much last week, believing that the preseason would be used as a way to determine the rotations Utah uses moving forward. 

Mike Conley, Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Oynyk started both games, while Malik Beasley got the start in the opener and Jordan Clarkson got the nod on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Only Collin Sexton, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Walker Kessler appear to have carved out roles in the rotation. But solid performances by Stanley Johnson, Cody Zeller, Ochai Agbaji, and Rudy Gay have them firmly in the mix.&nbsp;

With a whole week of practices ahead, one might think that the rotation over the next two preseason games will more closely resemble what to expect when Utah tips off with Denver on Oct. 19 in the season opener. As to what that rotation may be — only time will tell.

2.) Defense Takes Step ForwardWhen Hardy took over as leading man, he was sure that he wanted tough, hard-nosed defenders who could guard multiple positions. 

After a rough showing in the opener against Toronto, Utah responded with a much better performance against Blazers. Armed with a bevy of athletic wings with length and strength, the Jazz were able to cause absolute chaos and force Portland into rough possessions and 17 turnovers.&nbsp;

Looking to find his spot in the rotation, Johnson was close to dominant on defense. Using his strength and athleticism, he defended 1-4 and was sensational on the perimeter, constantly speeding up the Blazers and forcing them into bad shots.

"Stanley really brought a lot of energy and toughness in particular on the defensive end," Hardy said. "That's his identity as a player and that's how he can help our team, being somebody who has a massive impact on the defensive end."

3.) So Much LengthAlready touching on Johnson's ability on defense, the Jazz found other proven defenders who made life for the Blazers much more difficult. 

Aided by Vanderbilt, Beasley, and Alexander-Walker, the Jazz are full of players with incredible wingspans capable of staying in front of their respective opponents and not getting beat to the rim.

That was never more apparent when Markkanen, an athletic 7-foot wing found himself one-on-one with Damian Lillard, one of the best scoring guards in the league.&nbsp;

Markkanen moved his feet well enough to stay in front of Lillard, forcing up a contested three-pointer that clanked off the rim. While it was simply a missed shot, it was further evidence that this team is buying into Hardy's defensive philosophy.&nbsp;

4.) Conley Turns Back The ClockAfter a season last year that did not live up to his standards, Conley entered this year with a point to prove. 

Through two preseason games, it appears that he’s ready to put last year behind him and looks much more similar to the player named an All-Star two seasons ago.&nbsp;

In 22 minutes per game, Conley is averaging 11.5 points per game — but most impressively, doing so on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point territory. Conley appears quick and is back to making elite decisions with the ball, whether pushing the tempo or knowing when to pull up from beyond the arc.&nbsp;

His ability to return to form this season will go a long way into determining the success of the team — and through two games, it appears he's on the right path.&nbsp;

5.) Kessler Making Positive ImpactAs a rookie who did not play in the NBA Summer League, the odds were stacked against Kessler being somebody who could contribute immediately. 

Although it's a small sample size, Kessler should be able to find himself in the rotation throughout the season, showing starter potential as well.&nbsp;

It’s apparent that his skillset and athleticism are NBA-level, as his feel for the game is already advanced for his status. His ability to find himself in the right spot more often than not while showing elite instincts defensively is why the Jazz are so excited about his development. 

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"Stick To Our Identity" | Five Things To Know About Utah's Two Preseason Games

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