Jazz Prepare For Healthy Hayward, Hornets

Feb 5, 2021, 1:35 PM

Charlotte Hornets wing Gordon Hayward (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz will face a familiar face when they match up with the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

The Jazz will face off against Gordon Hayward, now in a Hornets uniform after signing with the team in the offseason.

On Thursday night the Jazz beat The Atlanta Hawks 112-91, starting their three-game east coast road trip off on the right foot. The Hornets meanwhile snapped a three-game win streak with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

The @utahjazz beat the @ATLHawks 112-91. This is how they won this game.

◾ Mike Conley's brilliant third quarter.

◾ The Jazz contingency plan offense.

◾ Strong identity prevented a trap game.#TakeNote https://t.co/3kiUAYk8PR

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 5, 2021

Jazz On Second Night Of Back To Back

The Jazz have won 13 of their last 14 games, but head into Charlotte on the second night of a back to back.

After a sloppy first half plagued by foul trouble to guard Mike Conley, the Jazz found their rhythm in the third quarter and walked away with a dominant 21 point victory.

Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 23 points off the bench, while forward Bojan Bogdanovic continued his high level of play with 21 points in 29 minutes.

The @utahjazz have their 13th win in 14 games and beat the @ATLHawks 112-91.

Clarkson scores 23, Bogdanovic has 21, and the Jazz own the best record in the NBA at 17-5. #takeNote pic.twitter.com/jwLLJ5kd08

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 5, 2021

The Jazz are the NBA’s second-best road team at 8-3 away from home, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers 12-2 record, but are 0-1 in road back to backs, having lost to the New York Knicks on January 6 after falling to the Brooklyn Nets the night before.

Since the Knicks loss, the Jazz are 5-1 away from Salt Lake City with an average margin of victory of 15.6 points.

Hornets Poised For Playoffs

The Hornets sit in the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff chase more than a quarter of the way into the season.

The team got out of the gate to a slow 2-5 start, but have since won eight of their last 15 games to pull near .500 and comfortably into the playoff picture.

Charlotte is led by strong play on the perimeter, specifically from guards Devonte’ Graham and rookie LaMelo Ball who combine to average 12.1 assists per game. The Hornets lead the league in assist percentage, assisting on more than 70 percent of their baskets.

Your Hornets lead the NBA in assists with 628 dimes! For every assist this season, @LendingTree will be donating $20 to @CltFamHousing. So far, the donation total is up to $12,560! 💰 #AllFly pic.twitter.com/W1Wfri6gpB

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) February 4, 2021

Though the Hornets mediocre three-point shooting team over, they have three shooters connecting on more than 40 percent of their individual attempts. Hayward, and guards Terry Rozier and Malik Monk all shoot at least 43 percent on 4.4 attempts per game or more. Monk has made 12 of his last 20 three-point attempts and is shooting a blistering 52 percent for the season.

Key Matchup

The key matchup will pair Jazz forward Royce O’Neale and former Jazzman Hayward in a duo of sharpshooting wing players having career seasons.

O’Neale is averaging career-highs in points (7.9), rebounds (7.0), and three-point shooting percentage (45 percent). The forward has been tasked with defending the opposing team’s best wing player, and will likely draw the matchup against Hayward for long stretches in Charlotte.

Hayward meanwhile is having the season of his career and looks fully recovered from the devastating ankle injury he suffered in his first game after leaving the Jazz for the Boston Celtics.

GH 2️⃣0️⃣ is on another level! M-V-P!

RT & VOTE for @Gordonhayward 🗳⭐️ #NBAAllStar @Kia | #AllFly pic.twitter.com/ZK2cIMKpOF

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 31, 2021

Hayward is averaging a career-high in scoring at 22.9 points per game while connecting on 43 percent of his 5.3 three-point attempts per outing.

The former Jazzman surprised many NBA fans by signing a four-year, $120 million deal with the Hornets, but has made the move look like a wise investment with his high-level of play.