Jazz At Heat: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz take on the Miami Heat in the first game of a four-game road trip.

The Jazz have won 22 of their last 24 games, including a stellar 114-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

The Heat meanwhile have won four straight games including a win at home against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Follow this page throughout the night for updates on coaches quotes, starting lineups, and highlights and thoughts during the game.

Coaches Quotes

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra continued his praise of the Jazz during his pregame availability.

“To the average fan, they’re wondering where did this team come from,” Spoelstra said. “But the people in the know, people in this league have seen this team as one of the elite teams for at least the last three years.”

Erik Spoelstra on the @UtahJazz.

"To the average fan, they're
wondering where did this team come from. But the people in the know, people in this league have have seen this team as one of the elite teams for at least the last three years.."

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 26, 2021

Jazz coach Quin Snyder took the opportunity to discuss how his team could improve in the second half of the season.

“Sometimes rather than trying to add more, simplicity and execution are the way to improve,” Snyder said. “So whether someone’s trapping us or switching pick and roll or they’ve dropped their big or they’re up at the point of the screen, you try to get to a point where your players, not just the guys that are in the pick and roll, but other players on the court understand how they need to space.”

Starting Lineups

hola, miami 😎#StartingLineup | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/Bv9vDTGmuG

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 27, 2021

Big game. We're ready.

Starting 5 // @biscaynebaybrew pic.twitter.com/I2oxPidtZ7

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 27, 2021

First Quarter

• Another slow start from the Jazz, though Miami’s defense has been stout.
• Jazz now starting to find their ability to generate open looks, but trail early 12-9.

The @MiamiHEAT lead the @utahjazz 15-9 with 6:29 left in the first quarter.

Jazz struggled to find easy looks early, but seem to have figured out the Heat defense and have generated some good looks from three.#TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

• The Heat are doing to the Jazz what the Jazz to do teams. Bam Adebayo sucks the defense in, which the Heat turn into kick-outs, and then they drive again until they get a good look.
• Nice bench minutes for the Jazz. Joe Ingles was +7 in the first quarter, Jordan Clarkson had 6 points on two-threes.

At the end of one the @utahajzz lead the @MiamiHeat 30-26.

Jazz closed on a 16-7 run fueled by Jordan Clarkson who had 6 points off the bench.

Bogdanovic leads all Jazz scorers with 9. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Vm9CaVSMi5

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

Second Quarter

• Derrick Favors back on the floor after heading to the locker room earlier in the game.
• The Heat look like a talented team that is well-coached and are seeing a team for the second time.

The @utahjazz haven't been able to get any separation from the @MiamiHeat either on the court or on the scoreboard.

These teams are tied at 40 with 6:49 left in the first half.

Miami's defense has held the Jazz starters to 2-9 from deep. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/YQx4DzuqR1

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

• The formula this season for beating the Jazz is to outshoot them, then, get a bad shooting night from Mike Conley.
• Currently, both things are happening, as Conley is shooting just 3-10 from the floor.

At the half, the @utahjazz trail the @miamiheat 57-53.

Good defensive battle in the first half between two good teams.

Jazz outscored 31-23 in the second quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/8xvMexsQNi

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

Third Quarter

• The physicality of this game favors the Heat, and Miami is getting the benefit of the whistles right now.
• Jimmy Butler is killing the Jazz with the ball in his hands. He’s drawing a lot of contact against Jazz defenders.

Strong third quarter burst from the @utahjazz and they have tied the game with the @miamiheat at 77 with 6:46 left in the third quarter.

Royce O'Neale has six points in the quarter but they have been timely buckets. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/sz47kZgBK8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

• Donovan Mitchell doing superstar stuff. His finishing through contact this year, especially on floaters has seemed significantly improved. He’s got 24 points.
• Clarkson is having his worst game in a while for the Jazz, his shot is just off, and when he’s switched onto bigs, he’s struggled to score over Adebayo.

At the end of the third quarter, the @utahjazz trail the @miamiheat 96-94.

VERY high scoring quarter as the two teams combine for 80 points in the third.

Big 12 minutes ahead for the Jazz. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/MYMhdymzlZ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

Fourth Quarter

• Jazz can’t break past the Heat, and Goran Dragic is having his best game of the season.
• Now, the question for the Jazz is do they have the ability to flip the switch late in a close game against a good team?

The @utahjazz are watching this one slip away thanks to @miamiheat guard Goran Dragic.

He's got 25 points off the bench, and the Heat lead 114-107.

Jazz going to need to start getting stops if they want to keep this close. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/vOxQYTZGM7

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021

• Winning basketball from Mike Conley. Forces a jump ball off his own miss, Miami mistakenly tips the ball to the Jazz, and Bogdanovic makes them pay with a three.
• The Jazz have cut the Heat lead to just 1 with 2:30 left to play.

The @utahjazz fall for only the second time in the month of February. #TakeNote #UTAatMIA https://t.co/B7XOcHRTtU

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 27, 2021