Jazz Look To Start Winning Streak Against Tired Pacers

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will look to build off of Tuesday night’s win over the Atlanta Hawks when they face the Indiana Pacers tonight in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz knocked off the Hawks 110-98 in the first game of a five-game homestand that will continue through next week.

The Pacers meanwhile will be fighting fatigue after falling 101-98 to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

You can listen to Jazz Game Night co-host Coach Tim LaComb preview the Jazz and Pacers in the player below.

Jazz Defense Stays Stout

Though the Jazz have struggled to shoot the ball this year, the team’s defense has been sturdy to open the season.

Through 11 games, five opponents have failed to break the 100 point scoring mark as the Jazz own the eighth-best defensive rating in the NBA at 104.2.

Hassan Whiteside has the fourth-best total plus-minus on the @UtahJazz despite playing the eighth most minutes.

He also has the best individual defensive rating (95.0) of any regular rotation player on the roster.

The unit he plays with has exceeded expectations.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 11, 2021

The Jazz have benefited from 48 minutes of combined rim protection from Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside as the two fearsome shot-blockers have held opponents to a 43 percent field goal average, the eighth-lowest in the NBA.

Additionally, the Jazz have had success against the three-point shot, as opponents are knocking down just 31.5 percent of their deep balls, good for fourth-lowest in the NBA.

Whiteside leads all Jazz regular rotation players in individual defensive rating at 95.0, while the team’s other offseason addition Eric Paschall ranks second at 98.3.

Pacers Look To Bounce Back In Utah

Like the Hawks on Tuesday, the Pacers will roll in Utah on the second night of a back-to-back after falling in Denver on Wednesday.

Indiana will wrap up a four-game road trip against the Jazz before heading home for one game against the Philadelphia 76ers, then returning to the road where they will play four of their next five games.

💙❤🤍As the @utahjazz plan to honor Veterans at tonight's game, we would love to see photos of you the vets in your family💙❤🤍

📻: @ZoneSportsNet & @kslnewsradio
📺: AT&T SportsNet & @fuboTV
🎧: https://t.co/yTfV2Fd1rE

Follow: @BensHoops & @JakeScottZone pic.twitter.com/Zv8NFr0U80

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 11, 2021

The Pacers lost in Denver despite the Nuggets playing without MVP Nikola Jokic how missed a game due to a suspension.

Indiana had been playing their best basketball of the young season prior to their loss in Denver. After losing six of their first seven games to open the season, the Pacers had won three of their previous four including wins over the New York Knicks at home, and Sacramento Kings on the road.

The Pacers are led by veterans Malcolm Brogdon who is averaging a career-high 22.7 points but has failed to shoot the ball efficiently knocking down just 28 percent of his three-point shots despite shooting 38 percent from three last season.

Will Jazz Continue Improved Shooting?

While the Jazz have struggled to shoot the ball so far this season, the team took a step in the right direction knocking down 15-38 threes against the Hawks on Tuesday.

Now, amid a five-game homestand, will the familiar gym allow the Jazz to climb back to their spot among the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA?

Regardless, the team’s offensive rating remains near the top of the league at 113.6, behind only the 76ers and the Miami Heat.

Broadcast

The Jazz and Pacers tip-off tonight at 7 pm MT. The game can be heard on 102.7 FM KSL News Radio, and 97.5 FF/1280 AM The Zone Sports Network. The game will also be televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV.

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