Utah
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers: Takeaways from Utah’s blowout loss
The Utah Jazz lost in blowout fashion against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Within the first five minutes, the Jazz trailed by double digits. By the end of the first quarter, the Clippers’ lead swelled to over 20 points. James Harden scored 24 points in the first quarter alone, eclipsing the entire offensive production of the Jazz by four points himself.
Here are a few takeaways on Utah’s rough night:
Utah’s bigs struggle against strength
Ivica Zubac, the Clippers’ 27 year-old center, dominated tonight. He posted a gaudy stat line: 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one assist on 8-11 shooting from the field. For those with an astute memory, you may recall that Zubac did something similar against the Jazz in Utah’s last meeting against the Clippers on November 17th. In that game, Zubac scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, dominating Utah largely through moving bodies in the paint.
For Filiposki, losing this battle again makes sense. He’s a rookie matching up against an NBA player who’s got 7 years of NBA strengthening, conditioning, and dieting under his belt. For Kessler, one of his largest criticisms during his first two seasons in the league was his lack of strength. While he made considerable gains on that front this offseason, he continues to struggle against bigs who hold a strength advantage.
Defending the three-point line
After allowing 22 threes agains the Phoenix Suns earlier this week, the Jazz gave up 21 threes to the Clippers tonight. That’s no good.
On one hand, some of those makes were just a result of shooting variance. James Harden, who ended the night with 41 points, shot 7-11 from three tonight. He hit multiple threes over reasonable contests. Norman Powell, who finished 29 points, followed suit by shooting 5-7 from range. In the NBA that happens. But the Jazz give up the 3rd most three-point makes and attempts in the NBA, a recipe for losing a lot of games (note: both the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans land in the bottom-five as well).
In part, this is a personnel problem. For as much as the Jazz continue to search for a primary offensive weapon, the question of a primary defensive weapon remains. While Taylor Hendricks looked to fill that role, that potential answer will need at least a few more years to develop.
How to enjoy watching a blowout loss
Even the biggest basketball fans would admit that games decided within the first quarter get boring. Tonight on PlayBack TV, we talked a bit about what to look for in games like these. While there weren’t many bright spots for the Jazz, we noticed the test Zubac provided for Utah’s youth and how Brice Sensabaugh’s added value as a passer and rebounder (he had five of each tonight). As the season grows, I suspect that these types of games will only become more common. I recommend finding small parts of each player’s game to watch closely and look for growth or regression. That may bring some more entertainment.
Oh, or if you have the chance, join us on PlayBack TV. The livestreams are a fun way to watch with other Jazz fans (shameless plug, I know.)
Utah
Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Utah
Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
Utah
Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah
HUNTSVILLE , Utah (KUTV) — Three motorcycles crashed on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
Officials said one motorcycle traveling northbound on SR-176 near milepost 10 failed to maintain its lane while navigating a curve.
The bike crossed into oncoming southbound traffic, where it collided with two other motorcycles. Officials said all three riders were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. All were wearing helmets and protective gear.
Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.
_____
-
Nevada52 seconds ago‘I just believe in Michele.’ Undaunted as ever, Fiore plans return to Pahrump bench – The Nevada Independent
-
New Hampshire7 minutes ago
Building back history: Program trains young people to help preserve NH’s landmarks
-
New Jersey13 minutes agoNJ Burglars Target These 10 Hiding Spots First
-
New Mexico19 minutes agoFuture of free childcare for all families in New Mexico remains uncertain
-
North Carolina25 minutes agoPerspective | What North Carolina gets right about workforce: Progress beyond politics
-
North Dakota31 minutes agoND Guard officer in charge of DC special mission
-
Ohio37 minutes ago
Ohio Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for May 10, 2026
-
Oklahoma43 minutes ago
Tulsa Race Massacre reparations is soul-redeeming work for the US, Oklahoma civil rights lawyer says