By: Kimya Oliver
The Utah Jazz fell short to the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-91.
The Crossover: Utah Jazz by the Numbers
The Jazz struggled early, allowing the Cavaliers to open the first quarter on a 20-9 run. That didn’t last long. With less than two minutes to go, Jordan Clarkson caught the ball on the wing and drove the ball in for the tough layup to bring the Jazz within three. The Jazz trailed 27-24 after the first quarter.
To open the second quarter Mike Conley pulled up from deep to sink the three-pointer. The Jazz couldn’t figure out how to stop the Cavaliers.
The entire second quarter was a tip-for-tap situation. The Jazz would cut the lead to four points, but the Cavaliers would go on a run to extend the lead to double digits.
With 3:30 to go Conley gave Donovan Mitchell a high screen for the deep three-pointer. The first half ended with the Jazz trailing 58-52.
After a three-minute non scoring drought, Mitchell sunk a shot from deep to get the offense going. The Cavaliers opened the third quarter on a 10-6 run.
The Jazz continued to struggle offensively, allowing the Cavaliers to lead 78-58 with five minutes to go in the quarter. With 40 seconds left in the third frame, Conley rushed up the court to sink the shot from deep. The Jazz trailed 88-68 after the third quarter.
Traveling: Losing continues at Home
The Jazz answered quickly to open the fourth quarter. Royce O’ Neale gave Denzel Valentine a cross-court pass to sink the three-point shot.
The Cavaliers wouldn’t let up offensively and continued to attack the basket for the remainder of the game.
The Daily Double-Double
Clarkson led with 22 points and Eric Paschall had the most impressive stat line with 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench. He was the closest to a double-double, but the Jazz couldn’t quite get one without Rudy Gobert in the lineup.
Bounce Pass: Up Next
The Jazz will be facing the Denver Nuggets on January 16 at 6 p.m, MST.
Featured image courtesy Scott G Winterton, Deseret News