So many NBA teams were intentionally tanking their games Sunday night, it was fair to wonder through the middling opening minutes of the Jazz-Kings matchup if Utah momentarily got confused and tried to join in.
No worries, though, people: by the end of the first quarter, everything was sorted out, the Jazz were rolling, and soon enough, well on their way to achieving their ultimate goal — claiming the No. 1 playoff seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
Done and done.
Utah capped a tumultuous-for-everyone but brilliant-for-them season with a 121-96 victory over the Kings.
They finished the campaign at 52-20 (a 59-victory pace in a typical 82-game season) and now await the results of the coming play-in tournament (featuring the Lakers, Warriors, Grizzlies, and Spurs) to discover their first-round playoff opponent.
That’s down the road a bit, though.
On Sunday night, the Jazz allowed themselves a few brief moments to appreciate their accomplishment.
“You appreciate this group of men and the opportunity to coach them. … I want all of them, all of us to enjoy this moment,” coach Quin Snyder said afterward. “Appreciate the regular season, and then that transitions us to the mindset we need to have to play well in the playoffs.”
A season that began with many outsiders wondering if this team would combust owing to lingering tensions between stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell instead came together in unprecedented fashion.
In fact, aside from a few nervous minutes early against the Kings, Sunday’s coronation was a largely anticlimactic affair.
Over the first five minutes, Utah shot 2 for 8, committed four turnovers, surrendered an 11-0 run, and trailed 11-5.
Four minutes later, they were still struggling — 5 of 15 from the field, six turnovers, 25-13 deficit.
Against a Kings team missing every single rotation regular aside from Buddy Hield.
Panic time, right?
Not so much.
Utah closed the first period on a 15-0 run and never trailed again. Their subsequent 14-4 run to close the second quarter made it a 15-point advantage at halftime, and the contest was never close thereafter.
All that was left thereafter was running out the clock and some muted on-court celebration — cameras captured some low-key handshakes near the bench as time expired — of their accomplishment.
Jordan Clarkson led the way with 33 points on an efficient 11 for 20 from the field. Bojan Boganovic added 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Rudy Gobert contributed 13 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks. Mike Conley, in his second game back from injury, had 11 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in a mere 21 minutes of action.
The Jazz were proud of what they did. And they were all intuitively aware that they’ve got bigger goals to try and accomplish coming up.
“We all have a keen understanding that, beginning next week, no on’s worried about what you’ve done today or in the preceding months,” Snyder said.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/3v5IoWE
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