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"Maintain Your Focus" | Utah Closes Out Road Trip With Final Stop In Memphis | Nba utah jazz vs chicago bulls
Digital Content Writer • Ryan_Kostecka | By NBA.com
January 8, 202310:41 AM MST
***This Game Preview is brought to you by University of Utah Health***
It's safe to say the past few weeks have really tested Utah's will and resiliency.
Despite playing clutch minutes in their past seven games, the Jazz are just 1-6 in those moments — and Saturday night against Chicago was another learning lesson.
Leading by seven with just under 10 to play, Utah was in prime position to pick up a victory over the Bulls on the road. Then Chicago caught fire, hitting threes on three consecutive possessions en route to a 24-9 victory.
It's not as if the Jazz crumbled under pressure; they were able to battle back from the double deficit and were a Lauri Markknanen three-pointer away from making it a three-point game with over a minute to go. What those three threes did was demoralize the Jazz on defense, causing them to lose focus for a minute or two which proved to be the difference in the end.
"I think the learning moment for our team is that guys can make two or three hard shots in a row, and you still have to maintain your discipline and commitment to the game plan and to playing with the level of intensity that you need on defense," head coach Will Hardy said. "You can't let three tough shots deflate you, and I felt like that's what happened in those moments."
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 29: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Dillon Brooks #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays defense on October 29, 2022 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
One of the bright spots going into Sunday is that Markkanen has been playing at an All-Pro level over the past 10 games. He's averaging 31.4 points and 8.3 rebounds on 54% from the field, 41.5% from three, and 92.4% from the free throw line.
"Lauri's done such a good job of continuing to work on different ways he can impact the game offensively," Hardy said. "Obviously he's shown the ability to shoot the ball. … But the physicality he's been able to play with, to drive the ball and as a screener, has given him the opportunity to score in a variety of ways."
One of the bright spots going into Sunday is that Markkanen has been playing at an All-Pro level over the past 10 games. He's averaging 31.4 points and 8.3 rebounds on 54% from the field, 41.5% from three, and 92.4% from the free throw line.
"Lauri's done such a good job of continuing to work on different ways he can impact the game offensively," Hardy said. "Obviously he's shown the ability to shoot the ball. … But the physicality he's been able to play with, to drive the ball and as a screener, has given him the opportunity to score in a variety of ways."
Also emerging over the last few games has been rookie Ochai Agbaji, improving each night and quickly gaining the trust of Hardy and his teammates.
After Hardy came out and said early last week that Ochai Agbaji would get more playing time, the rookie responded with a career game just two nights ago.
He was even better on Saturday night, setting new career highs with 19 points in 20 minutes, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 from three.
Utah will have a chance to make good on those end-of-game struggles when they return to action on Sunday against Memphis. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. MT.
"It's definitely frustrating to lose a game when there's a lot of good stuff in it," Hardy said." Our team is learning that you can play well, and things can not go your way. … You have to maintain your focus on your approach, not just the results."
STATS
Utah (20-22, 8-15 away / No. 10 Western Conference)
Offense
*117.5 Points Per Game (No. 3 in NBA)
*116.1 Offensive Rating (No. 3 in NBA)
Defense
*116.8 Points Per Game (No. 23 in NBA)
*115.1 Defensive Rating (No. 27 in NBA)
Individual
*Lauri Markkanen: 24.5 points | 8.4 rebounds | 1.9 assists | 42.2% 3P-shooting
*Jordan Clarkson: 20.6 points | 4.5 assists | 3.9 rebounds | 36.0% 3P-shooting
*Malik Beasley: 14.3 points | 3.6 rebounds | 37.7% 3P-shooting
*Kelly Olynyk: 12.1 points | 4.9 rebounds | 3.2 assists | 41.1% 3P-shooting
Utah Jazz vs Memphis Score
Memphis (25-13, 15-3 home / No. 2 Western Conference)
Offense
*116.1 Points Per Game (No. 9 in NBA)
*113.8 Offensive Rating (No. 11 in NBA)
Defense
*111.1 Points Per Game (No. 8 in NBA)
*109.0 Defensive Rating (No. 1 in NBA)
Individual
*Ja Morant: 27.2 points | 8.0 assists | 5.9 rebounds | 1.1 steals
*Desmond Bane: 21.6 points | 5.0 rebounds | 3.7 assists | 38.6% 3P-shooting
*Dillon Brooks: 17.1 points | 3.4 rebounds | 2.8 assists | 33.8% 3P-shooting
*Jaren Jackson Jr.: 16.6 points | 6.4 rebounds | 3.1 blocks | 35.9% 3P-shooting
KEY MATCHUP
*Jordan Clarkson vs. Dillon Brooks
— It’s Utah’s most important player against Memphis’ best perimeter defender in this one as the battle between Clarkson and Brooks is going to be elite. Brooks has always prided himself on being the antagonist and has no problem getting physical — especially at home — to get his way. But Clarkson thrives in the biggest moments, and with Utah needing a win, could be the difference-maker on Sunday.
INJURY REPORT
Utah
OUT | Collin Sexton (right hamstring injury maintenance)
OUT | Leandro Bolmaro (G League - On Assignment)
OUT | Johnny Juzang (G League - Two-Way)
OUT | Micah Potter (G League - Two-Way)
Memphis
QUESTIONABLE | Steven Adams (non-COVID illness)
QUESTIONABLE | Ja Morant (right thigh soreness)
OUT | Brandon Clarke (left hip soreness)
OUT | Danny Green (left knee surgery recovery)
OUT | Jake LaRavia (G League - On Assignment)
OUT | Kenneth Lofton Jr. (G League - Two-Way)
OUT | Vince Williams Jr. (G League - Two-Way)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Time: 4:00 p.m. MT
Location: FedEx Forum |Memphis, TN
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: The Zone Sports Network