Jazz 131, Magic 124: What We Learned
Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 31 points, while Talen Horton-Tucker chipped in 23 as the Utah Jazz outlasted the Orlando Magic, 131-124, on Thursday night. Paola Banchero led the Magic with 26 points in a losing cause.
In a game that could have implications in terms of draft positioning in the upcoming lottery, it was the Jazz that came out on top thanks to an efficient offense down the stretch. In the final two minutes, Utah scored on its last four out of five possessions to hold onto the victory.
Utah showcased seven players in double figures and a starting five that were all in the positive in the +/- column.
What did we learn in Utah’s big road win? Let’s break it down.
Players & Coaching Staff Playing to Win
Despite all the chatter about tanking this season, the Jazz players/coaching staff are playing to win these games. Utah boasted four players that logged at least 30 minutes and had their best players in the game down the stretch.
It also should be noted that Walker Kessler suited up despite being questionable heading into the contest. The Jazz don’t win this game without the contributions of their big man scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, along with some elite rim protection.
Moving forward, the Jazz shouldn’t be ruled out of making the playoffs quite yet.
Kris Dunn Belongs in an NBA Rotation
It remains to be seen whether Dunn fits in Utah’s long-term plans, but at the least, the former No. 5 overall draft pick will be on an NBA roster next year. Dunn scored 12 points while hauling in nine rebounds and was huge down the stretch in Utah’s win.
In fact, Dunn played all 12 minutes in the fourth quarter, and Utah most likely doesn’t come out victorious without his defensive presence. The Jazz brain trust has another decision to make when Dunn’s contract expires on March 15.
Horton-Tucker Making Strides
In hindsight, the Jazz made the correct decision in releasing Russell Westbrook. The deadline trade with the Los Angeles Lakers cleared a path for Horton-Tucker to get live reps to develop, and he’s taken full advantage of the opportunity.
'THT' saw 30 minutes on the court and dished out nine assists along with his aforementioned 23 points. Orlando’s guards had no answer to the physicality THT brought to the table.
The Jazz are missing Collin Sextion's skill set offensively, but THT and Dunn make Utah a much more formidable team on the defensive side. THT has a player option of $11 million heading into next year, and it will be interesting to see whether he decides to test the free-agent market, or stick with the Jazz.
The Jazz get one day of rest before they play another road game versus ex-Jazzman Gordon Hayward and the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Tip off is at 6:00 pm MDT.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream podcasts!
