Utah Jazz Jump Out Gates Hot In Second Half vs 76ers

SALT LAKE CITY- The Utah Jazz, who are playing only their third game at Delta Center in December, are finally home after an extended East Coast road trip where they notched consecutive wins for the first time all season.

In their penultimate game of 2024, the Utah Jazz are taking on Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in their first of two meetings of the year.

The Jazz had apparently missed their hometown fans, giving them a fast and exciting start as the home team jumped out to a 12-3 lead, and just past the halfway mark of the first quarter, the advantage had grown all the way to 23-9.

There were some exciting plays featured in Utah’s hot start. One was a pass from Lauri Markkanen to Walker Kesler as Markkanen crept along the baseline. The dish led to a wide open dunk for Kesler.

from one big fella to another 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Tz2J8QpJEU

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 29, 2024

The Jazz led by 12 at the end of the first frame, however, throughout the course of the second quarter, Philadelphia slowly closed the deficit, eventually taking a lead of their own that they would expand to five by the time the halftime break arrived.

The Jazz stole the momentum right back to open the third quarter, regaining the lead after going on a 15-4 run.

Both Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen hit three-pointers during the stretch.

Lauri three counter: 🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/PuybW14lXB

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 29, 2024

horns 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, shot's 𝐔𝐏 🎯 pic.twitter.com/h2jeZXyKyP

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 29, 2024

Thanks to the surge to open the half, the Jazz are in a neck-and-neck battle with the 76ers halfway through the third quarter.

NBA Announces New All-Star Game Tournament

For the first time, the NBA will stage a four-team, three-game tournament featuring 24 All-Stars and the winner of the Rising Stars Tournament.

The 24 NBA All-Stars will be split into three eight-player teams via a draft conducted by TNT basketball analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith.

Those three teams, plus the winning roster from the NBA Rising Stars tournament, named for WNBA legend Candace Parker, will then compete in a three-game tournament to crown one ultimate winner.

NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE NEW FORMAT FOR 2025 NBA ALL-STAR GAME

• Mini-Tournament Features Four Teams and Three Games

• Three Teams of NBA All-Star Selections Joined by Castrol Rising Stars Champion

• TNT’s Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith Draft Rosters of… pic.twitter.com/VKuRyvLs2O

— NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2024

The eight players on the winning roster will receive $125,000, the runner-up will receive $50,000, while the third and fourth-place roster players will receive $25,000 each.

Related: Would AJ Dybantsa Be Drafted Ahead Of Cooper Flagg?

The All-Star selection process will remain unchanged with fans (50 percent), current players (25 percent), and media (25 percent) combining to select the top five players from each conference.

NBA coaches will select seven more players from each conference to complete the All-Star roster.

All-Star voting will begin on December 19 at 8 a.m. MT and conclude on January 20 at 9:59 p.m. MT.

Tanner Tripp is a sports writer for KSL Sports covering all teams across the state of Utah. Follow him on X @tanner_tripp and Instagram @tanner.tripp here.

What more coverage of the Utah Jazz? Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Follow @tanner_tripp