Toronto Raptors

Ryan Kostecka

After a three-day break in which the Jazz were able to get some much-needed practice time and recovery for their bodies, Utah found itself locked in battle with Toronto late in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.&nbsp;

Good thing the Jazz got the time to rest and recover because when much came to shove in the clutch, it was Utah who was making the winning plays. Physical defense and impressive shotmaking helped the Jazz prevail and walk away with a 131-128 victory over the Raptors. 

"A good team win against a hard-playing, really physical team," head coach Will Hardy said postgame. "Our emphasis in the second half was to maintain our space, make early decisions, don't over-dribble, and rebound as a team. … Overall, I thought our initial physicality in the game was great and helped us maintain our mindset and aggressiveness throughout the game. We matched their physicality."

Here are five things to know following the win:

1.) Blocker Kessler's Special NightAfter being named to the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game on Tuesday, Walker Kessler was impressive against the smaller Raptors on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

To say that Kessler dominated the paint would be an understatement — he was that good as Toronto had a challenging time scoring in the paint with Kessler looming. He finished with his 11th double-double of the season by posting 17 points, 14 rebounds, and seven blocks. His six blocks in the opening quarter were the most by anybody in the league this season.

Kessler also became the second-fastest Jazz player to reach 100 career blocks, doing so in 50 games. Mark Eaton, one of the greatest shot blocks of all time, reached 100 blocks in just 48 games.&nbsp;

While Kessler continues to dominate, one has to wonder if he might be the one who breaks Utah's triple-double curse? It has been 5,467 days since a Jazz player last recorded a triple-double in the regular season — a 22-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist performance from Carlos Boozer. Although it's still early in his career, it's safe to say that Kessler may just be the person to break through for the Jazz.&nbsp;

2.) Depth Is The Star Of The NightWhile there were outstanding individual performances from several players on Wednesday, the night's real star came from the Jazz as a whole. Their depth was fully displayed as six players scored in double figures, led by Lauri Markkanen's 28 points and Kessler's 17.&nbsp;

Jordan Clarkson finished with an extremely quiet 23 points, shooting 8-of-17 from the floor and 5-for-12 from deep. Mike Conley chipped in a season-high 19 points. But where the Jazz really differentiate from many of their opponents is their depth coming off the bench — and that's where Collin Sexton and Malik Beasley shined brightest.&nbsp;

Sexton dropped 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter, giving the Jazz the spark they needed. Malik Beasley finished with 14 points on 4-for-11 from deep, being the long ball threat the Jazz needed.&nbsp;

"Six guys in double figures, those nights are always indicators to me that a lot of guys were making plays," Hardy said. "The guys executed well, I thought our ball movement was tremendous. … We give ourselves a chance in what seems to be a season of close games."

3.) Markkanen Finds Out His Fate On ThursdayWith Kessler finding out his All-Star fate on Tuesday, Lauri Markkanen will find out his fate on Thursday when the reserves for the All-Star game are announced later that night. But if Wednesday was Markkanen's last chance to impress the selection committee, consider it a successful showing.

He finished with his 20th double-double of the season, posting 28 points and 13 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, and 10-of-10 from the free throw line.&nbsp;

When the Jazz needed him most, he rose to the occasion. He scored 17 points in the second half and then added seven points and three rebounds in the final eight minutes to help seal the victory.&nbsp;

4.) Conley A Dominant Floor GeneralAlthough it may be his 16th season in the league, Conley continues to be one of the better pure point guards in the game — and Wednesday was more of the same.&nbsp;

He finished with a season-high 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding eight assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. He also shot a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

With Markkanen, Kessler, and Jordan Clarkson getting most of the headlines — and deservedly so — Conley continues to arguably be Utah's most important player. His calming demeanor in the clutch, always ensuring the Jazz aren't rushed and get into their offense, can't be understated.&nbsp;

"Mike has been such a steadying force for us late in games," Hardy said. "He and I have developed a very good communication about what we would like to do, and he does a good job communicating that to the team and getting them organized. … His decision-making continues to be great late in games."

5.) Stats AnomalyIf one were to look at a key number of stats that usually determine whether a team wins or loses in the NBA, the Jazz should've been run out of Vivint Arena by the Raptors on Wednesday.

Toronto took 110 shots on the night, 27 more than Utah's 83 field goal attempts. The Raptors also out-rebounded the Jazz 52-49 but grabbed a season-high 25 offensive rebounds. They won the turnover battle 16-8 and finished with 11 steals, scoring more fast break points and points in the paint.&nbsp;

So how on earth did the Jazz not just get beatdown but somehow walk away with their seventh victory in their past 10 games?

To put it easily, Utah was the significantly more efficient team on the night.&nbsp;

The Jazz outscored the Raptors by 21 from beyond the arc while shooting a ridiculous 75% (27-for-36) on shots inside the three-point line. Combine that with an impressive 26-of-30 showing from the free throw line, and Utah somehow emerged victorious.&nbsp;

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"We Matched Their Physicality" | Five Things To Know Following Utah's Victory Over Toronto

Surprise, surprise — Utah found itself in another close game late in the fourth.&nbsp;

After a thrilling and exciting final 12 minutes that saw impressive shotmaking and offensive creation on both sides, the Jazz got the final say. A Walker Kessler rebound, followed by free throws from Mike Conley, clinched the 131-128 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

"A good team win against a hard-playing, really physical team," head coach Will Hardy said postgame. "Six guys in double figures, those nights are always indicators to me that a lot of guys were making plays. The guys executed well, I thought our ball movement was tremendous. … We give ourselves a chance in what seems to be a season of close games."

After being named to the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game on Tuesday, Kessler was dominant against the smaller Raptors on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

To say that Kessler dominated the paint would be an understatement — he was that good as Toronto had a challenging time scoring in the paint with Kessler looming. He finished with his 11th double-double of the season by posting 17 points and 14 rebounds. He was on triple-double watch for a while but finished with seven blocks, tying a career-high.

With Kessler finding out his All-Star fate on Tuesday, Lauri Markkanen will find out his fate on Thursday when the reserves for the All-Star game are announced later that night. But if Wednesday was Markkanen's last chance to impress the selection committee, consider it a successful showing.

"First of all, none of us are hoping... we are all EXPECTING Lauri to be an All-Star," Hardy said. "Tomorrow night is going to be fun."

Although it may be his 16th season in the league, Conley continues to be one of the better pure point guards in the game — and Wednesday was more of the same.&nbsp;

"Mike has been such a steadying force for us late in games," Hardy said of Conley. "He and I have developed very good communication with what we'd like to do late in the game, and he's done a great job of relaying that with the team. … His decision-making continues to be great."

It was a fun start for Utah as Kessler backed up that selection with one of the most impressive quarters of his young career. He finished with six points, four rebounds, and four blocks in just eight minutes of action, completely dominating the paint.&nbsp;

He wasn't the only Jazz player to get off to a good start as Utah looked like a team well-rested, going on a 10-0 run to lead 10-2 early. With Kessler in control on the defensive end, the Jazz continued to push the tempo, leading by as many as 12 late in the first following a Collin Sexton three.&nbsp;

But the Raptors would battle back, ending the quarter on a 7-0 run following a pair of Chris Boucher dunks.&nbsp;

After a Toronto bucket to begin the second, the Jazz found a rhythm again as Malik Beasley and Sexton hit back-to-back threes, as Utah went on a 12-2 run.&nbsp;

Utah's lead would stay at double digits for the remainder of the quarter, with a Clarkson three giving the Jazz a 60-47 advantage with just over three to play in the half. But that's when the Raptors rallied behind the play of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakim.&nbsp;

A quick 10-0 run over the next two minutes saw Utah's lead dwindle to three, and Vivint Arena got quiet. But Markkanen, as he's done all season, answered the call with a personal 5-0 run — before Toronto ended the half on a buzzer-beating three by Gary Trent Jr.&nbsp;

Hardy wasn't pleased with Utah's start to third, calling a timeout after Toronto's 13-6 run put the Jazz into their first deficit since the first bucket of the game. Despite Kessler contesting nearly every shot in the paint, the Raptors made a living by dominating the offensive glass.&nbsp;

The timeout was well-timed as Clarkson and Markkanen knocked down back-to-back threes on the next two possessions to retake the lead. The teams would then battle back and forth for the remained of the quarter, with neither being able to pull away.

An 8-2 run by Utah — with five points from Markkanen — gave the Jazz a six-point lead with just under five to go in the quarter. But Toronto kept battling, cutting the deficit to one following another dunk by Boucher. Utah responded to close the quarter strong as a Clarkson three swung the momentum back towards the Jazz.&nbsp;

It was another slow start for the Jazz as Toronto started the fourth on a 6-0 run to take the lead less than three minutes in — but this time, Ochai Agbaji answered with back-to-back threes as the Jazz led by four midway through the quarter.

The back-and-forth was beginning as the Raptors retook the lead following a 5-0 run, but the Jazz answered. A Markkanen three capped a dominating stretch by him and Kessler as Utah rallied off a 9-0 run to lead 113-105 with 4:10 to go.&nbsp;

Toronto refused to go away, knocking down four threes over three minutes — but the Jazz answered on every offensive possession. Whether Conley with an and-one, Clarkson with a three, or Markkanen with a big bucket, the Jazz came up clutch when needed down the stretch to pull out the win.&nbsp;

"That game is sort of exactly what we talked about pregame," Hardy said. "Our emphasis in the second half was to maintain our space, make early decisions, don't over-dribble, and rebound as a team. … Overall, I thought our initial physicality in the game was great and helped us maintain our mindset and aggressiveness throughout the game. We matched their physicality."

Clarkson finished with a very quiet 23 points, including 17 in the second half, while adding five assists and two rebounds. Beasley and Sexton paced Utah's second unit with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Jazz will continue the homestand on Friday when they host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT

season-of-close-games-markkanen-and-kesslers-double-doubles-power-utah-down-the-stretch-against-toronto

"Season Of Close Games" | Markkanen And Kessler's Double-Doubles Power Utah Down The Stretch Against Toronto

Jeremy Rincon

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Highlights: Lauri Markkanen – 28 points, 13 rebounds, 4 3PM

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Highlights: Raptors 128 | Jazz 131

What a season it's been for Walker Kessler.&nbsp;

After earning his way into the starting lineup over the past few weeks, the good news continued. Announced during practice on Tuesday, Kessler was named to the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars game at NBA All-Star Weekend.&nbsp;

"I feel good. ... Super thankful to my teammates, coaching staff because I wouldn't be able to do it without them," Kessler said. "It's very exciting. ... I'm very blessed because this year was about learning and absorbing as much information going forward."

While his numbers may not jump off the page — 49 games (15 starts) where he's averaging 7.7 points (71.5% shooting), 7.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 20.2 minutes per game — Kessler more than passes the eye test and analytics.&nbsp;

His per-36 minutes stats are Gobert-esque; 13.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks on 71.5% shooting. His numbers as a starter prove that he's ready for the bigger role that's come his way, averaging 10.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game.

Kessler's best game of the season came two weeks ago against the Timberwolves when he finished with 20 points, a career-high 21 rebounds, and two blocks. He also added four assists, a huge development that he's finally catching up to the speed of the game.

His 20-point, 20-rebound performance was the first by a rookie in the NBA since 2014 — and he was the first rookie since Alonzo Mourning (1992-93) to put up those numbers on 65% shooting or better.

"It's funny how everything works out," Kessler said. "The fact that I'll be in the city where I play, representing the team, I wouldn't want to represent any other city. The fanbase has been unbelievable, I love them."

However, Kessler hasn't been the only rookie finding success with the Jazz this season.&nbsp;

Ochai Agbaji, acquired in the trade for former Jazzman Donovan Mitchell, has also seen his role gradually increase over the past few weeks. He's played double-digit minutes in the past 12 games, averaging 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds on 44.8% shooting from three in 20.5 minutes per game.

While his turnaround can be attributed to his growth as a player with more experience, his teammates have been extremely helpful in helping him navigate the game.&nbsp;

"Going in, like any other rookie, there's a lot of things you got to learn," Agbaji said. "But, coming in with a new staff and new coaches and a lot of new (players), I think we all collectively helped each other. The veteran guys were really helpful with the rookie guys and the younger guys. It's been nice to have those resources."

Kessler and Agbaji will have a chance to continue their strong play of late when Utah returns from its three-day break to host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

Toronto (23-29, 8-17 away / No. 12 Eastern Conference)Offense*112.8 Points Per Game (No. 21 in NBA)*114.3 Offensive Rating (No. 10 in NBA)Defense*112.3 Points Per Game (No. 10 in NBA)*113.8 Defensive Rating (No. 18 in NBA)Individual*Pascal Siakim: 25.0 points | 8.0 rebounds | 6.3 assists*Fred VanVleet.: 19.2 points | 6.5 assists | 4.3 rebounds | 34.1% 3P-shooting*Gary Trent Jr.: 18.6 points | 2.5 rebounds | 36.7% 3P-shooting*Scottie Barnes: 15.7 points | 7.1 rebounds | 4.9 assists&nbsp;

KEY MATCHUP*Lauri Markkanen vs. Pascal Siakim—&nbsp; With NBA All-Star reserves set to be announced on Thursday, it’s safe to say that Markkanen should be expecting his name called for the first time. He’s taken a massive leap forward as Utah’s No. 1 option. Meanwhile, Siakam has emerged as a bonafide star in the league and a potential All-NBA candidate every season — and this year is no different. This battle should be thrilling on Wednesday.&nbsp;

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

learning-and-absorbing-utah-returns-to-action-after-three-day-break-to-host-toronto-on-wednesday

"Learning And Absorbing" | Utah Returns To Action After Three-Day Break To Host Toronto On Wednesday

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

Despite a very solid showing in the first half, Utah's inexperience with one another played a factor against the cohesive Raptors as the Jazz fell 114-82 on Sunday evening in Edmonton, Alberta.

"I think there was some good to take away," Hardy said postgame. "Obviously, there's some stuff that we have to get a lot better at. To me, it was a tale of two halves."

With 14 new players on the roster — 10 of whom saw action — Lauri Markkanen stood out the most.&nbsp;

After an incredible showing at EuroBasket this past summer, Markkanen continued to show how much his game has progressed after dropping a game-high 20 points in 24 minutes. He added five rebounds and two steals, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor.&nbsp;

Another bright spot for the Jazz was the play of guard Collin Sexton, one of the key components of the Donovan Mitchell trade a month ago.&nbsp;

In his debut, he put up 11 points off the bench — including a 3-for-4 performance from beyond the arc. One of the more talented scorers in the league, Sunday's time on the court was Sexton's first action since last November when he suffered a knee injury and missed the remainder of the 2021-22 season.&nbsp;

While growing pains are expected under Hardy — especially considering how many new players the Jazz are trying to incorporate — it was clear that Utah will do precisely what Hardy wants them to do.&nbsp;

"I want a team that competes. … I want a team that cares about winning," Hardy said earlier this 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."

Despite the final score, the Jazz battled all game long — particularly in the first 24 minutes when they went into the half trailing 50-49. Their physical style of play was evident as they forced 10 first-half turnovers, 23 in total.

"We didn't make many shots but executed well, guarded well in the half court," Hardy said. "Second half, we got a little bit disorganized and our communication wasn't very good."

Rookie Walker Kessler added 11 points, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 7 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.&nbsp;

The Jazz continue their preseason road trip to Portland to face Damian Lillard and the Blazers on Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. MST.

"This is a new group that's learning each other," Hardy said. "There's adversity in any NBA game, and tonight we didn't deal with that adversity in the beginning of the second half very well."

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"A Tale Of Two Halves" | Utah Falls In Preseason Opener

After an offseason full of change, the time has come to see what the new-look Jazz can do.&nbsp;

Utah kicks off the 2022 preseason when it travels to Edmonton, Canada, to face reigning rookie of the year Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. MST and will be on AT&T SportsNet and NBATV.

So many questions remain unanswered as the Jazz prepare for their four preseason games — all before kicking off the regular season on Oct. 19 against Denver.&nbsp;

What will Utah's offense and defense look like with new head coach Will Hardy at the helm? With only three returners from last season's team, who breaks into the starting five? What will the rotation look like?

These are just a few questions that should gain clarity on Sunday afternoon — all while ushering in a new era of Jazz basketball that Hardy promises will reflect the fanbase and their desire to win.&nbsp;

"This team is going to be representative of this organization, and it's going to be something that's reflected with the fan base," Hardy said earlier in the week. "I want a team that competes. … I want a team that cares about winning. 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."

Led by returners Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and newcomers Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and Malik Beasley, the Jazz look on paper as if putting the ball in the hoop shouldn't be much of an issue.&nbsp;

"When I look at the roster, I think we're a skilled offensive team," Hardy said. "I think we have a lot of guys who can dribble, pass and shoot. … We have a lot of guys who can play in a lot of different spots on the floor."

While the offense shouldn't be a problem, most questions appear to be on the defensive end.&nbsp;

Jarred Vanderbilt and Kelly Olynyk will be the stalwarts, but who can emerge as defensive stoppers on the wing? Will rookie Ochai Agbaji find his calling, or will someone like Beasley take the next step forward on that end of the court?

Despite having a few established players on the roster, many eyes will be on some of the newer and younger guys and the roles they can carve out with the team.

Simone Fontecchio, one of Europe's best forwards, is coming off a stellar showing at EuroBasket, where he led Italy in scoring.

Walker Kessler is a talented rookie, while Leandro Bolmaro is a former first-round pick with potential. Talen Horton-Tucker was a significant role player for the Lakers the last two seasons, while Jared Butler is entering his second season after showing legitimate promise last year.&nbsp;

And then there's Nickeil Alexander-Walker, someone who has drawn raves throughout training camp after having a few really good seasons with New Orleans.&nbsp;

Regardless of how Utah attacks the preseason opener and who emerges as vital rotation players, Jazz basketball is officially back.

“We will be tough, we will play with passion, we will be a team,” Hardy said.

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"We Will Be Tough" | Hardy Makes Debut As Utah Opens Preseason Against Toronto

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