Jazz present no signal of slowing down with 145-113 rout over Raptors

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz entered Friday’s sport with a 19-20 file — the identical mark they’d after 39 video games final season.

“I might say the file is the one method it feels comparable,” Jazz coach Will Hardy mentioned. “The distinction? The apparent one is we’re trending in a far totally different path at this level than we had been final yr.”

Final season presently, the Jazz had been within the midst of a five-game shedding streak. This season? They’re taking part in a number of the finest basketball within the NBA; and that development continued Friday.

The Jazz gained their fourth straight sport Friday with a 145-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors on the Delta Middle.

The Jazz have now gained 10 of their final 12 video games, and 13 of their final 17. And with Friday’s win, Utah moved right into a play-in positioning because the tenth seed within the Western Convention. Yeah, it is nonetheless early within the season, however that is a far cry from the place the Jazz had been a month in the past.

The Jazz had three gamers rating over 20 factors and had been led by Lauri Markkanen, who had 22 factors and 9 rebounds on the evening. Jordan Clarkson had 21 factors, and Collin Sexton had 20 factors and 5 assists in solely 20 minutes.

What had been a good sport flipped on the finish of the second quarter. With 7:10 remaining within the second quarter, Toronto heart Thaddeus Younger was taken out after selecting up his third foul. The Jazz led by simply 6 factors as he exited the court docket, however by halftime, Utah’s lead was 17.

Toronto by no means bought nearer than that within the second half.

“This time final yr, my messaging would have been like we’re not going to be too low — we’re making an attempt to take it day-by-day,” Hardy mentioned. “My messaging this yr can be the flip facet: We’re making an attempt to not journey too excessive. We performed properly currently for certain, however we are able to nonetheless get higher, and we have got to attempt to preserve that stage and our strategy.”

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