With a victory over the Atlanta Hawks, the Utah Jazz again made fun of the NBA preseason power rankings.
Lauri Markkanen scored 32 points overall, finishing 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. Up and down the lineup, contributions are increasingly being made by Utah.
Malik Beasley and Walker Kessler reached double digits off the bench with 18 and 12 points, respectively. Jordan Clarkson, a shooting guard, contributed 23 points as well.
Dejounte Murray, a shooting guard, led the Hawks with 26 points despite their defeat.
The Jazz increased their season record to 10-3, while the Hawks dropped to 7-4.
With 5:40 remaining in the second quarter and a 14-point lead, the Jazz—scorching hot coming into the game—appeared to be cruising to victory. The Hawks cut the gap on an 18-13 run to move within striking distance at halftime, 63-54. However, the NBA is a game of streaks.
The Hawks dominated the third quarter as the Jazz struggled to get going. Trae Young and Murray outscored the Jazz 36-22 by utilizing their athleticism to create open shots, giving them a 90-85 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
With 9:32 remaining in the third quarter, a Beasly three-pointer gave the Jazz their first lead. From that moment on, they never looked back as they shocked the Hawks with a 40-point fourth quarter.
It was a game of stretches in which both teams appeared to be in control, but when it mattered most, Utah was the team that heated up just in time.
This Jazz team can score many points and is no joke on the offensive end. Usually, 40-point quarters are saved for All-Star games, but when Utah is on, it can score from wherever on the court and doesn’t hesitate to shoot long-range shots.
Shame on other sources for having no games where the Jazz can showcase their abilities on a big stage, as head coach Will Hardy has developed a no-fear mentality with this team.
After the game, Hardy observed, “I’m proud of the boys’ handling adversity on the road.” “I believe our squad worked pretty well together tonight,”