Atlanta, GA
Jazz shake off bad quarter to beat Atlanta and win 4th straight game
Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes
ATLANTA — It took the Utah Jazz almost 9 minutes to get a single defensive rebound to begin the second half. They had been on the flawed finish of a 28-8 run within the third quarter, and so they had been pressured to play a rookie middle in hopes of slowing the tide.
These aren’t issues normally mentioned in regards to the crew that wins a sport.
However right here we’re as soon as once more.
Utah recovered from arguably its worst quarter of the season to prime the Atlanta Hawks 125-119 Wednesday at State Farm Area.
Lauri Markkanen had 32 factors and eight rebounds, and Jordan Clarkson added 23 factors and 5 assists to assist the Jazz win their fourth-straight sport. Utah scored 40 factors within the fourth quarter to beat what had been a 10-point Atlanta lead.
The Jazz had been phenomenal to shut the sport. Malik Beasley hit 4 3-pointers within the fourth quarter, Markkanen scored 8 factors within the last 5:11, and Mike Conley handed out six of his game-high 13 assists within the closing six minutes. Utah used an 8-0 run late to achieve some separation after which stored making play after play to shut the sport.
“Mike was unbelievable organizing us down the stretch,” Jazz coach Will Hardy mentioned. “We went to a few completely different actions and he made a whole lot of actually, actually good selections. There have been some huge photographs made by his teammates.”
That was a stark distinction to how the Jazz began the second half. Resulting from a scorching begin by Markkanen, who had 16 factors within the first quarter, and a few well timed taking pictures, the Jazz had a 9-point lead at halftime.
That did not final lengthy.
After a Markkanen 3-pointer early within the third quarter, the Jazz led by 68-58. That is when the Hawks began attacking the rim with no hesitation, and the Jazz did not have a solution. Quickly sufficient, Utah’s double-digit benefit had changed into a double-digit deficit.
Dejounte Murray and Trae Younger led a 36-point third quarter, which included a 28-8 run, by the Hawks to wrestle management of the sport from the Jazz.
“The third quarter was,” Hardy started earlier than his voice trailed off as he looked for probably the most diplomatic approach of ending his thought, “not excellent.”
That is placing it properly. Nearly every part went flawed.
The Hawks scored on 16 of their first 17 possessions. How? The Jazz misplaced cutters, left shooters open, and did not field out. Even when the Hawks did miss, they nearly all the time received their fingers on the ball. Atlanta had seven offensive rebounds within the quarter; and Utah had simply three defensive ones.
“We did not get stops,” Markkanen mentioned. “(The Hawks) got here out firing within the third and we weren’t fairly prepared for that.”
So the Jazz put of their whole second unit, which included Walker Kessler, the rookie from Atlanta, in hopes it might assist flip the tide.
It ended up being a fairly particular homecoming for Kessler.
He had 12 factors on 6-of-6 taking pictures, 5 rebounds and three blocks. Superb numbers, however extra importantly was his total affect on the crew. That was highlighted by a play early late within the third quarter when he went up and blocked Justin Vacation on the rim, sprinted down the courtroom and caught an alley-oop on the opposite finish.
When he checked in late within the third quarter, the Jazz had been down by 10; when he exited with 5:59 remaining, Utah had a 3-point lead.
That run saved the sport for Utah.
“I assumed the second group got here in and actually did an amazing job of getting some stops and getting out and operating, shifting the ball. And it allowed us to remain within the sport,” Hardy mentioned.
Then Conley, Markkanen, Beasley and Co. introduced the Jazz dwelling.
“We have talked a bunch as a crew that each sport, particularly street video games goes to current you with moments that aren’t going your approach,” Hardy mentioned. “The opposite crew goes on a run and the group will get into the sport and it’s important to discover a technique to recenter your self and stick collectively.”
The Jazz, as soon as once more, discovered a technique to do exactly that.