Utah Jazz vs Indiana Pacers Pregame Analysis

by Alma Bean Feature Image by Charles Rex Arbogast of the Associated Press The Utah Jazz (2-6) takes on the Indiana Pacers (4-3) looking to avoid a four-game losing streak. What to Look For Utah is coming into a hostile environment for visiting teams going up against Indiana, who has the number one scoring offense…

Alma Bean

November 8, 2023

1–2 minutes

Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Brice Sensabaugh, Bruce Brown, Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers, Jalen Smith, Johnny Juzang, Jordan Clarkson, Josh Christopher, Kelly Olynyk, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Micah Potter, Myles Turner, NBA, Talen Horton-Tucker, Taylor Hendricks, Tyrese Haliburton, Utah Jazz, Walker Kessler

by Alma Bean

Feature Image by Charles Rex Arbogast of the Associated Press

The Utah Jazz (2-6) takes on the Indiana Pacers (4-3) looking to avoid a four-game losing streak.

What to Look For

Utah is coming into a hostile environment for visiting teams going up against Indiana, who has the number one scoring offense in the league (124.9 PPG). Allowing 120.1 PPG, these stats should scare Utah fans given Utah only makes their opponents commit 12.3 turnovers per game, which is below Indiana’s average on the year of 13. With seven players averaging double figures (Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Bruce Brown, Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith and Bennedict Mathurin), Utah won’t be able to shut down one player and expect the offense to stop. On the other hand, if Indiana can stop Lauri Markkanen from scoring, most of Utah’s offense tends to fall with him. With a mix of lineup adjustments, this could be the game for Kelly Olynyk to shine and be a pump faking facilitator after nearly getting a triple-double on Monday in Chicago.

Key of the Game

Ball movement. Indiana not only leads the league in assists per game (31.9) but they also have the leader in assists in Haliburton with 11.7 assists per game. That alone is the equivalent of Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker combined with less turnovers. Haliburton is averaging 2.8 turnovers per game with a 4.2 TO/AST ratio while Clarkson and Horton-Tucker combined to average 5.8 turnovers per game with a 2.0 TO/AST ratio.

Injury Report

Indiana – N/A

Utah – Josh Christopher (G League) Out, Keyonte George (foot) Probable, Taylor Hendricks (G League) Out, Johnny Juzang (G League) Out, Walker Kessler (elbow) Out, Micah Potter (G League) Out, Brice Sensabaugh (G League) Out

Where to Watch

Tip-off will be at 5:00 p.m. MST on KJZZ and Jazz+.

Author

Written by

Alma Bean

I am currently a student at the University of Utah working toward my second bachelor’s degree, this time in communication with an emphasis in journalism. I currently have a bachelor’s degree in music from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. As I pursue a degree in communication, I dream to bring this emphasis of journalism to the world of sports. When I’m not writing, I allow my inner basketball fan to come out as I watch previous games and highlights across the NBA to become a walking, talking sports almanac.

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