by Alma Bean
Feature Image: Photo by Chris Carlson of AP Photo.
The Utah Jazz (32-35) takes on the Charlotte Hornets (22-47) in their final meeting of the season as Utah goes for the series sweep.
The Dell Curry Connection
Utah wanted to hit the ground running to start this game, but Charlotte would not allow them to gain much ground. Ochai Agbaji (10/3/1) started a three-point barrage for Utah halfway into the quarter but former Utah star Gordon Hayward (11/3/4) made sure his nine-point contribution would keep this game tight. This back-and-forth battle felt like it was going to last all four quarters as the first ended with a 32-29 Utah lead.
Neither team could find the bottom of the net when it came to perimeter shooting in the second. Charlotte shot 2/11 (18.2%) while Utah shot 2/9 (22.2%) so both teams looked towards the paint. Lauri Markkanen, who is normally Utah’s attacking force on offense, struggled to make anything. Markkanen’s saving grace came from the free throw line, where he shot 4/4 (100%), after going 2/14 (14.3%) from the field in the first half. Markkanen’s struggles seemed to fuel Charlotte as Terry Rozier (22/6/8) was on triple-double watch by halftime with 10/5/4. With the help of the supporting cast, Utah was able to finish the half with a 58-49 lead.
Utah Jazz on Twitter: “Blocker Kessler causing some 𝚋𝚞𝚣𝚣 🐝 https://t.co/GFQdmgjxVR” / Twitter
T.H.T. Dynamite
The paint seemed to be wide open for Utah in the second half they nearly abandoned the perimeter offensively. Utah shot 1/3 (33.3%) from the perimeter in the third yet finished the quarter with 23 shot attempts. This surge came from Talen Horton-Tucker (37/8/10) who shot 4/6 (66.7%) for the quarter while collecting 12 points after having 15 at the half. When the attention was focused on Horton-Tucker, Walker Kessler (17/16/1) was able to become a threat down low as he shot 4/4 (100%) for the quarter accounting for nine points. After a 39-point explosion from Utah in the third, Utah went into the final quarter with a 97-81 point lead.
Utah Jazz on Twitter: “*𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐* https://t.co/8NXLjZ0ikV” / Twitter
Charlotte had something click in the final quarter to have this one come down to the wire. Charlotte shot 7/10 (70%) from the perimeter in the fourth quarter after shooting 10/30 (33.3%) for the first three quarters. Kelly Oubre Jr. (24/5/1) and P.J. Washington (18/7/2) led this three-point surge as they combined for 5/7 (71.4%) from the perimeter. As Charlotte began to inch closer to the lead, Horton-Tucker continued to put Utah on his back. Recording 10 more points in the quarter, totaling 37 points, three points shy of his career-high, Horton-Tucker used his broad build to force his way to the hoop. Though Charlotte began to show more tenacity in the fourth, it proved to be too late as Utah walked away with the in 119-111.
What’s Next
Utah will reach the last leg of their six-game road trip on Monday against the Miami Heat.
Utah Jazz on Twitter: “Jazz fans in every arena 🖤 #TakeNote https://t.co/r3M9Wmy5Gg” / Twitter