Who will stop Jazz in 2024? Facing the Raptors who were coming off two losses in Los Angeles, Lauri Markkanen's teammates won 145-113. This is the 7th victory in a row at home for the Jazz, the 10th in 12 matches, and above all it allows them to find a balanced record and take 10th place in the West.
Like this first 3-pointer with one foot on Immanuel Quickley's huge Jazz logo, the Raptors resisted for a quarter thanks to their distant skill. Quickley, Siakam and even Schroder hit the mark from afar, and that contrasts with the game of Jazz which systematically seeks to go to the circle in the absence of Jakob Poeltl. Kris Dunn even dunks in traffic, then imitated by Ochai Agbaji. After twelve minutes, Jazz is in front (28-25).
And then, the Raptors will quickly crack. Unable to score in the paint, or even from mid-distance, they conceded a 14-4. The Jazz took an 11-point lead (44-33) and the Clarkson-Olynyk duo drove home the point (56-41). Walker Kessler regains his intimidating qualities, and Toronto tries to survive, again and again, with its 3-points. At halftime, Utah escaped (64-47).
The George-Kessler duo puts on a show
Returning from the locker room, same configuration with alternation of Jazz and Raptors always borrowed to approach the circle. For a moment, Siakam, Trent Jr and Porter resisted with their winning baskets, but the absence of “stops” prevented them from getting back on track. Result, Jazz has fun with this strong drive from Fontecchio or this dunk from Walker Kessler at the conclusion of a great collective action (90-69).
Very complicit with Keyonte George, Kessler dominates the start of the 4th quarter. The rookie offers himself a dunk from the dotted line of free throws, then he sends Kessler to shake the circle. The international pivot established Jazz's domination in the paint and the gap oscillated between 20 and 25 points, before the two coaches whistled the start of “garbage time” four minutes from the end.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Raptors out of ideas. There are numbers that don't lie. At halftime, the Raptors had only scored 5 2-point baskets, including three for Scottie Barnes alone. For a long time, Siakam's teammates survived by their 3-point skill with a superb 16 out of 24 after three quarters. But once the long shots stopped coming in, they exploded.
– Jazz enters the Top 10 in the West. With the Lakers resting, the Jazz took the opportunity to take 10th place in the Western Conference thanks to a balanced record (20v-20d). As the Warriors won in Chicago, the fight promises to be exciting for the play-in places. Especially since the Suns (20-18) and the Rockets (19-18) are not very far away.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
