Jazz At Pistons: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome into KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz travel to face the Detroit Pistons on the fifth stop of a seven-game road trip.

Follow this page throughout the day for updates on the pregame quotes from Pistons coach Dwane Casey and Jazz coach Quin Snyder.

Both teams are coming off wins as the Jazz beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night 131-118, meanwhile the Suns erased a 23 point deficit to the Phoenix Suns to win 110-105 in overtime.

The @utahjazz haven’t lost to the @DetroitPistons since the 2015-16 season. #TakeNote #UTAatDET https://t.co/jQEOPl0XW8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

Pregame Availability

Casey was extremely complimentary of Jazz start Donovan Mitchell before the game. Mitchell is coming off arguably his best game of the season where he dominated the Bucks scoring 32 points, handing out seven assists and grabbing five rebounds.

“We will try to use length on him,” Casey said. “We’ll try to use smalls on him. We will try to mix up blitzes and everything else just trying to slow him down. But Donovan, he’s really developed and one of our younger stars in our league is going to be around a long time.”

Dwane Casey on the game plan against Donovan Mitchell.

"We will try to use length on him. We'll try to use smalls on him. We will try to mix up blitzes & everything else just trying to slow him down. But Donovan, he's really developed and one of our younger stars in our league"

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 10, 2021

Snyder meanwhile broke down how the Pistons 2-7 start to the season might be deceptive.

“Looking at a team’s early-season record really isn’t a good indication of where they are,” Snyder said. “Beating Phoenix and beating Boston, those are really good wins. And I think particularly in their last five games they’re really planning well so we’ve got to be ready, we’ll have our hands full and we need to execute like we did the other night.”

Starting Lineup

No Derrick Rose for the Pistons against the Jazz as he continues to work through a knee injury. Rose has been notoriously effective against the Jazz, including his 50 point outing aginst the team on Halloween night in 2019.

Starters for the @UtahJazz and the ⁦@DetroitPistons⁩. pic.twitter.com/gHdh8MbcPd

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 10, 2021

First Quarter

The Jazz open the game on a 9-0 run. Jazz are 4-5 from the floor while the Pistons are 0-5 with9:30 left in the first quarter

Donovan Mitchell has 7 points. The Jazz are happily seeking out Blake Griffin on switches onto perimeter players and then burning him off the dribble.

Mike Conley’s patience on the pick and roll is significantly different than it was in last year. As good as Conley was with Marc Gasol in Memphis, having a true rim roller versus a pick and pop player changes the timing and spacing of an offense.

Now, Conley looks totally comfortable playing with Gobert in the starting lineup.

Mitchell’s dominant second half in Milwaukee has carried over to the first quarter against the Pistons. Shooting well, attacking, passing. Looks like the early-season slump is over.

The @utahjazz are up 30-12 over the @DetroitPistons in a near perfect first quarter.

Donovan Mitchell has 13 points on 5-7 shots.

2:21 left in the first quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/pu2DYUqFah

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

At the end of the first quarter, the Jazz lead the Pistons 34-19. Pistons Jerami Grant had 11 points on an efficient 3-5 shooting but was outplayed by Mitchell’s 13 point first.

Seven Jazz players have scored and shoot 6-12 from three.

A pretty good start in the Motor City. 😏🕷 #TakeNote #UTAatDET https://t.co/oGipiaCFPm

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

Second Quarter

Jazz open the second quarter with solid play from the second unit. Joe Ingles is playing well in his first game back from breaking his iron man streak. He’s got 6 points on 2-3 shooting and is a +12 in just 8 minutes.

Derrick Favors is +10.

It doesn't look like the Pistons second unit is going to find much more succcess against the @utahjazz than the starters did.

Joe Ingles is +12 in 8 minutes with the second unit.

Jazz up 43-26 with 9:22 left in the half. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/pBg26vPTcr

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

After a brilliant first hal performance against the Bucks Jordan Clarkson has only been so-so against the Pistons. He’s been slow on his defensive rotations getting back out to perimeter shooters in the high quadrant and then has been a little narrow with his vision on offense.

Still, he’s such a dangerous shooter he’s got 10 points on 4-9 shooting and is +5.

With 4:18 left in the half, the Jazz lead the Pistons 52-34.

At the half, the @UtahJazz lead the Detroit Pistons 57-50.

Donovan Mitchell paced the Jazz with 15 points, and the Jazz defense held the Pistons to 31% from the floor and just 23% from three.

Dominant performance. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/PZJiap42ic

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

Third Quarter

The Jazz come out of the half looking a little rusty after building a 17 point lead.

The Pistons have trimmed that to 14 with 9:08 left in the quarter, and Quin Snyder wants a timeout.

The Jazz have let Detroit continue to eat into the lead, and they’ve trimmed it to 11 with 4:38 left in the third quarter.

The second unit hasn’t come in as strong in the second half as it did the first, and as a result Detroit has found success attacking the Jazz lesser defenders.

The @DetroitPistons continue to eat into the @utahJazz lead, and it's down to 11 with 4:38 left in the third.

Jazz have fallen asleep a few times defensively off the ball leading to open looks for Detroit. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

The Pistons call a timeout after trimming the Jazz lead to just 10 with 1:33 left in the third quarter.

Credit the Pistons for not taking their foot off the pedal. Jazz finish shooting 0-7 from three and the lead is down to 6.

The @UtahJazz lead is down to just 6 after three quarters.

Jazz go 0-7 from three in the quarter and and the Pistons outscored them 28-17.

12 minutes to play in Detroit. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/eolYTgepaB

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

Fourth Quarter

The Jazz cold-shooting continues through the fourth quarter and the Pistons are keeping the lead between 6-9 through most of the quarter.

Jazz are getting timely bailout threes to keep the Pistons from closing the lead completely but it’s not been easy basketball like it was in the first quarter.

Credit is owed to the Jazz for not giving up when the Pistons didn’t refuse to die. They’ve had to adjust to more isolation basketball but having the talent advantage over the Pistons has helped.

The @utahJazz have just 33 points in the second half after a 34 point first quarter, but it's been enough to keep the @DetroitPistons at arms length.

Jazz up 90-81 with 3:11 left to play. pic.twitter.com/tq5JMZFalO

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

The Jazz closed the game as the Pistons appeared to run out of gas late after making a valiant effort. It’s hard to erase double-digit deficits, especially in back to back games against more talented teams.

Impressive win for the Jazz who played terrifically well in the first quarter and very mediocre the rest of the way. You have to find a way to win games in the NBA, especially on the road, and the Jazz did that.

The @utahJazz beat the @DetroitPistons despite being held to just 96 points.

Donovan Mitchell leads the Jazz had 28 points to lead the team.

Jazz 3-2 to start their seven game road trip. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/8wlYhF5YqE

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021