Utah Jazz 87 - Orlando Magic 74 Game Recap

Wow, this game was . . . not very high scoring. Both the Utah Jazz (6-4) and the Orlando Magic (3-6) play at very slow paces of play. Both focus on defense. And in this grind it out battle where the two teams combined to MISS ONE HUNDERED SHOTS (59/159 or 37.1 FG%), the Utah Jazz prevailed 87-74. My brain is much comprehending all of this, but at least it did lead to Utah grabbing 52 rebounds in this game. The Jazz won the offensive rebounding battle (12 to 8), and won the battle of blocks (7 to 6), and held their own at the FT Line, 14/16 vs. 14/19 for the Magic.

This wasn’t the most fun game. For the Jazz their excuse is that they are missing starting point guard George Hill, and key bench players Alec Burks and Boris Diaw. Orlando? What’s their excuse, no Jodie Meeks? Anyway, this was a very funky game. Utah won the first quarter 23-17. Game over, right? Nope. Orlando starts the second on a 8-0 run and assert some level of dominance. Evan Fournier is a big deal and his offensive threat level is something the Jazz defense had to key in on. Off the bench D.J. Augustin was making shots as well. Everyone else was kind of “meh” and “missing shots”. This included the Utah Jazz point guards Dante Exum and Shelvin Mack.

The Offense was so listless that the Magic were able to go on that run, and eventually win the second quarter 21-19. The Jazz didn’t appear to care at all, as they pissed away the third quarter 26-18. Fortunately, the Magic ran out of “everyone sucks juice” after finding a way to go on a 9-0 run. Utah took it from there and put the Magic to bed with a 20-4 run. Shelvin made shots. Rodney made shots. Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert (alternating playing time) blocked shots. Guys helped each other out with rebounds, even offensive rebounds against the Nikola Vucevic / Serge Ibaka / Bismack Biyombo / Aaron Gordon line of tall guys and/or athletes that head coach Frank Vogel as to use.

Stats!

• Gordon Hayward (39 mins): 20 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal
• Derrick Favors (36 mins): 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 three
• Rudy Gobert (34 mins): 13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
• Rodney Hood (33 mins): 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
• Shelvin Mack (26 mins): 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steals
• Dante Exum (22 mins): 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
• Trey Lyles (21 mins): 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 threes, 1 steal
• Joe Ingles (15 mins): 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal
• Joe Johnson (11 mins): 2 points, 1 rebound
• Jeff Withey (2 mins): 1 block

Highlights!

Hood crammed on Biyombo!

D-Fav for three!

Gobert with the steal, and he.could.go.all.thee.way!

It’s better to be good late, than not good at all. And the Jazz were good late, and got their third win of this road trip. The final game is tomorrow night, @ the Miami Heat. Five games in seven nights. The second night of a back to back. The third game in four. It’s not going to be easy, especially with such a short bench for Quin Snyder (no Raul Neto in this game, despite all the PG struggles for the first 36 minutes).