Blog: Jazz Run Out Of Gas Against Pacers
Nov 8, 2023, 7:20 PM | Updated: Nov 9, 2023, 11:21 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the Indiana Pacers 134-118.
Jordan Clarkson scored 33 points to lead all scorers but it wasn’t enough to match the Pacers high powered offense.
With the loss, the Jazz have now dropped four consecutive games.
First Quarter
The Pacers jumped out to a quick 7-0 start as the Jazz missed two shots from the floor, committed two turnovers, and were late on multiple defensive rotations.
After a Will Hardy timeout, the Jazz answered with a 12-0 run, including five points from Jordan Clarkson.
The ball was clearly moving better after adjusting the Jazz starting lineup with the roster playing with a different energy than they had to start the season.
The most impressive part of Keyonte George’s game so far, and the reason he’s been able to help the Jazz is because of his quick decision-making. He catches the ball and doesn’t sit and survey the defense.
New starting lineup started strong against Indiana 👀#TakeNotehttps://t.co/5Xs68mphRy
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 9, 2023
John Collins has been much better over the last two games putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim where he can use his finishing abilities to get easy baskets.
The Jazz had a 10 point lead late in the first, but a rough stretch from the backup backcourt allowed Indiana to finish the quarter on a 10-0 run.
After one the Jazz and Pacers were tied at 29.
Second Quarter
Simone Fontecchio brought much-needed needed energy off the bench hustling on the defensive end and knocking down open threes offensively.
Lauri Markkanen missed his first four shots of the second quarter as the Jazz offense slowed in Indiana.
Simone Fontecchio with 10 first-half points 🤌🤌#TakeNote https://t.co/ZL067IAEzE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 9, 2023
George puts in the effort defensively, but there are fundamentals he needs to learn before he’ll be impactful on that end. Too often he ends up on the wrong side of a screen or doesn’t know how to stop the ball in transition.
11 turnovers in the first half are still too many, but the Jazz weren’t undone by giveaways against Indiana.
At the half, the Jazz trailed the Pacers 67-60.
Third Quarter
The Jazz opened the half on an 11-2 run as George, Markkanen, and Clarkson got the ball moving.
Tyrese Haliburton began looking for his shot in the third quarter, scoring 14 quick points.
The Jazz offense fell apart after the first substitutions of the second half as the Pacers got out and ran off of turnovers and poor ball movement.
Clarkson scored 13 points in the third quarter to keep the game close.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Collins Sexton, and Kris Dunn each made strong plays for the Jazz offense in the third quarter to wrestle back the lead, 98-95.
The Pacers closed the third quarter on a 6-0 run to take a 101-98 lead into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Pacers opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run, extending their lead to eight with 10 minutes left to play.
Indiana ran every chance they got in the fourth quarter and took advantage of the slower Jazz, building a 12 point lead.
The Pacers feasted on the Kelly Olynyk minutes outscoring the Jazz by 19 in his 19 minutes on the floor.
Hardy has not liked the whistle his team has gotten in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz’s biggest issues and been the Pacers’ speed on offense.
The Jazz fell to the Pacers 134-118.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
