Three days after beating the Lakers without difficulty on their floor, the Jazz did it again, at home this time, with an even bigger gap (139-116). The main protagonists of the first confrontation, Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen in the lead, once again shone for a Jazz which one wonders how far it will go. On the Lakers side, who were playing “back-to-back” and without LeBron James and two other starters, the return to balance still seems very far away…
This meeting started with a festival of skill with two teams shooting well beyond the 65% success rate over the first eight minutes. The starting backs of the Jazz did a lot of damage to the Lakers behind the arc while the latter relied more on Anthony Davis to punish inside. After twelve minutes, the visitors had already collected 42 points (34-42).
They nevertheless remained in contact in the following period to return to the locker room, after a half-time of “hooray basket”, with only two possessions behind (76-71). Carried by a raging Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz restarted the second half much better and this time Los Angeles had a lot more trouble keeping up.
The Jazz substitutes have largely taken over their counterparts opposite to finish the quarter very strong (115-98). So that the Lakers, despite the return of Russell Westbrook and AD, no longer have the means to return in the final period.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– New collective demonstration of Jazz. All holders with ten points or more, two other substitutes who bring 15 points or more, 30 assists for 53 shots scored… This Jazz match once again turned to collective and offensive demonstration. It will be recalled that the Salt Lake City franchise was already one of the best attacks in the league and one of those which generate the most assists on average before this meeting. This desire to share leather, and the smiles that go with it, is significant.
– Three starters absent from the Lakers. LeBron James had to watch his teammates suffer from the bench. The “King”, who is recovering from a nasty virus, was put to rest due to pain in his left foot. Two other holders, Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker, were also on the sidelines for this “disease” which affected a good part of the group, unrelated to the Covid-19.
– Jazz undefeated at home, Lakers still defeated away. Five teams in the league have yet to lose at home, the Jazz are one of them with five wins in as many home games. Five other teams in the league have yet to win away from home base, the Lakers are one of them with four losses in as many attempts away from Crypto.com Arena.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen. The two blasters of the Jazz attack. The first started the meeting very strongly with his 3-point address. He notably signed an award-winning basket with a (flagrant) fault by Juan Toscano-Anderson, then he did not force anything, displaying a good connection with Rudy Gay in particular. The second did most of his work in the third quarter, near the circle. “AD” had a lot of trouble containing it…
✅ Mike Conley. We could have mentioned substitutes Collin Sexton or Talen Horton-Tucker here, but the starting point guard put in a very solid performance, finished with a double-double, without losing a single ball, despite limited playing time. The 35-year-old has his career-best passing average and has almost never lost so few balls.
✅ ⛔ Anthony Davis. Best offensive performance of the year for him who was able to recover shooting opportunities in the absence of the three starters. Downside to his performance, he was not very active on the rebound and above all had a lot of trouble containing the opposing penetrations, including those of Lauri Markkanen.
⛔ The Lakers Defense. Rather serious since the start of the season, the Lakers’ defense continues to explode these days. After conceding 130 points the other day against the same team, they took 139 this time. The Jazz had far too much trouble generating good shots and penalizing in transition.
THE TALEN HORTON-TUCKER POSTER!
“THT” without piety with his former team. The fullback climbed over Damian Jones at the end of a third quarter that largely turned in the Jazz’s favour.
THE FOLLOWING
Jazz (9-3) : trip to the Hawks, Wednesday.
Lakers (2-8) : “moving” to the Clippers, Wednesday.
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