The Road Trip is Over

December 2nd, 2019 | by Isaac Adams

The big fella was a bright spot in the Jazz’s Monday loss. (Jesse D. Garrabrant via espn.com)

The Jazz finished their 5-game road trip with a 1-4 record after falling to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, 103-94. The Sixers were red-hot and the Jazz couldn’t hit the ocean from the seashore, especially from 3-point land where they made just five of 22 shots for the night (22.7%). Utah didn’t hit its first three in the game until Mike Conley hit one with four seconds to go in the first half. The Sixers percentage from deep at that point in the game was 57.9%, and they’d finish the game at exactly 50%.

Conley’s three was part of a 6-0 mini-run to close the half, but despite that push, the Jazz entered the locker room down 18.

Unfortunately for the Jazz, their shooting woes continued into the second half. That 22.7% included a 3-for-15 performance from the starting unit.

It looked like the Jazz were headed for a complete blowout loss but when Jazz coach Quin Snyder pulled the starters with 6:55 remaining in the game and down 18 points, the bench showed a lot of energy. The defense was better (five straight empty possessions for the Sixers) and the ball started moving. Suddenly, the Jazz were down only 10 and the starters began to trickle back into the lineup with three to four minutes to play.

The weary Jazz, playing their fifth game in eight nights, got six more points from Rudy Gobert during that final push, part of a 27-point, 12-rebound performance. But despite the late rally, which also included a Joe Ingles three, they weren’t able to get closer than within 7 points.

Stat of the Game

-24.  That’s the discrepancy in points scored from behind the 3-point line for the Jazz compared to the 76ers after the Jazz shot 5-of-22 from range while the Sixers shot 13-of-26.

Entering tonight’s game the Jazz were fifth in the league in 3-point percentage at .373 and the 76ers were 14th at .357. If both teams had taken the same shots but hit their season average instead of the Jazz being ice cold and the Sixers red hot, that differential turns to -3. Of course, that’s not how it works in the real world, but a 21-point swing would have turned a 9 point loss into a 12-point win for the Jazz.

Line of the Game

Ingles may have had his best game of the season with 13 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds.

Decisive Moment

The score was 23-24 Sixers with 2:34 remaining in the 1st quarter. The Sixers went on a 10-0 run and never really looked back.

Highlight of the Game

Social 

#sorrynotsorry

 

Notes

The road trip is over and it was easily the longest and hardest road trip the Jazz will face this year.

The next longest road trip is four games long in early March, but instead of the Bucks, Pacers, Raptors and Sixers the Jazz will face the Cavs, Knicks, Celtics and Pistons.

Other than his free throw shooting (5/10), Gobert was great tonight putting up 27 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks.

Up Next

Home sweet home and the 17-3 Los Angeles Lakers. Can LeBron James’ cold streak in Utah continue? Please?

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