Jazz snap five-game skid with win over Lakers

Donovan Mitchell scored 29 factors and Rudy Gobert had 25 factors and 17 rebounds because the Utah Jazz snapped a five-game shedding streak with a 122-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night time.

“It was large to get a win,” Mitchell stated. “The negativity and the losses and all that stress was extra exterior, however it was not a great time to have a five-game shedding streak. So it’s good to have a good time this one tonight.”

Jordan Clarkson scored 19 factors, Mike Conley added 18 and Bojan Bogdanovic 11 in his return from harm because the Jazz continued their battle to remain out of a Western Convention play-in sport.

Utah led wire-to-wire, the fourth sport of the season by which it by no means trailed. However, the Lakers stayed inside hanging distance till Gobert slammed down Mitchell’s miss to make it 120-104 with 2:54 to play.

“We had been discovering guys, making the suitable reads, getting switches, having the ability to break down the protection, get within the paint and make the additional go,” Mitchell stated of the Jazz offense returning to its environment friendly methods with 51 p.c taking pictures and solely eight turnovers.

Russell Westbrook scored 24 factors and Dwight Howard had 21 factors and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who had been with out LeBron James (ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (foot sprain). Howard even hit a step-back 3-pointer as he reached double figures for the second time in his final 12 video games.

“I understand how essential these video games are down the stretch. I simply wished to get my physique and my thoughts ready for tonight. Felt actually good on the market. Just a bit bit damage about not profitable the sport,” Howard stated.

Lakers have dropped 5 of six and are 4-14 since beating the Jazz on Feb. 16. They performed their thirty seventh totally different beginning lineup towards Utah.

“For me, personally, it’s a giant adjustment. You don’t know who’s enjoying and who’s out. Who’s beginning and who’s not. One thing I’m not accustomed to. However like I stated, I make no excuses. I personal no matter it’s, play whoever is enjoying and attempt to make the very best out of it,” Westbrook stated.

Utah’s shedding streak included a demoralizing defeat by which it blew a 25-point lead towards the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The Jazz have misplaced 14 video games this season by which they held double-digit leads.

When the Lakers closed to 113-103 on Talen Horton-Tucker’s 3-pointer, an audible nervous buzz grew among the many Jazz trustworthy as they anticipated one other collapse. However, the Lakers couldn’t persistently get sufficient stops to make it attention-grabbing.

“I actually like the best way we had been in a position to re-focus collectively and reconnect. We did a superb job closing … and that’s large for us,” Gobert stated.

Each groups have been weighed down by disappointing losses and unrealized expectations. A few of the dropoff has been on account of accidents, as James has missed three of the Lakers’ final 4 video games and Davis has been out for 18 video games.

Utah’s shedding methods have corresponded with Bogdanovic’s nine-game absence with a calf pressure and Home’s knee bruise.

“It’s nice to have them again, simply having that presence on the courtroom … for spacing. You understand guys need to assume twice once they determine to assist on the roll or drives and it opens the ground,” Gobert stated.

Hassan Whiteside has additionally been out with a foot sprain throughout three video games of the skid and missed the Lakers sport.

The Jazz had been in a position to get into transition and outscored Los Angeles 14-2 on quick breaks. Not solely did the Jazz stymie the Lakers on the transfer, they took away the perimeter pictures as Los Angeles made simply seven 3-pointers.

The Jazz are 28-11 on the season once they have their beginning lineup of Conley, Mitchell, Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale and Gobert.

REFRAIN FROM POINTING FINGERS

When the losses had been piling up and it didn’t seem like they had been having fun with enjoying collectively, Mitchell knew they needed to block the surface noise.

“The largest factor was simply having the ability to keep collectively as a bunch,” Mitchell stated. “We’ve got a bunch of men who’re seasoned and have been by means of ups and downs. So if a five-game shedding streak is what breaks us, that’s not who we expect we’re. I believe we’re a workforce that’s locked in as a bunch.”

Clarkson agreed and stated the swoon truly helped the workforce talk higher.

“There isn’t a way of panic with this workforce … a whole lot of it’s your self and what you are able to do to assist the workforce,” Clarkson stated. “That takes out the finger-pointing for those who maintain your self accountable.”

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

Lakers coach Frank Vogel preferred how his workforce competed with out his stars and hopes they will make a run once they return.

“We’ve got to remain within the battle and we’ve got to provide ourselves an opportunity. If we’re in a position to get into the play-in sport at full power, we all know we obtained a shot. … Tomorrow is even larger clearly with the head-to-head with the Pelicans,” Vogel stated.

TIP-INS

Lakers: Trevor Ariza had a season-high two blocked pictures. … The Lakers went 34 for 58 from 2-point vary. … Malik Monk scored 14 and Carmelo Anthony added 12.

Jazz: Utah had one turnover within the first quarter, which got here with 17.6 seconds left. … Gobert, who had been barking on the officers all sport, lastly obtained a technical within the third quarter. … The Jazz, who purpose to rise up 40-plus 3-point makes an attempt a sport, made 15 of 44 from past the arc.

UP NEXT

Lakers: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

Jazz: Go to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.