Jazz Host Hawks To Open Five-Game Homestand

SALT LAKE CITY – After one of the toughest travel schedules to open the season, the Utah Jazz will host the Atlanta Hawks in the first game of a five-game homestand.

The Jazz are coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season after dropping back-to-back games in Miami and Orlando to conclude their three-game road trip.

The Hawks meanwhile will face the Jazz on the second night of back-to-back games and their third stop in a four-game road trip.

Jazz Open Long Home Stand

The Jazz have played each of their last seven games in different arenas, with just one home game separating two three-game road trips.

That’s been a theme so far for the Jazz as they have yet to play consecutive games in the same state, much less consecutive games at home.

That will change over the coming weeks as the Jazz will host their next five opponents in Salt Lake City, with 10 of their next 12 games coming at home, and 16 of their next 22 overall.

The Jazz will have just six road games before the Christmas Holiday, and only two games away from home over the next four weeks.

I took a deep-dive into some of the @utahjazz numbers this season to figure out why they're shooting so poorly.

I did find one constant theme, and it has nothing to do with the new ball. #takenote https://t.co/NZk7Ca9E61

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 8, 2021

The team can use the extended time at home to work on their three-point shooting which has seen a dramatic drop-off from last season.

After setting an NBA record for the most threes made per game last season, the Jazz have seen their averages crater early in the year.

The team’s 16.7 made threes per game last season has dropped to just 13.5 makes this year, while their 38.9 percent completion rate has dropped to 31.8 percent.

That’s taken the Jazz from being one of the five most efficient shootings teams in the league from downtown last season down to 26th over the opening weeks this year.

Hawks Trying To Find Rhythm On The Road

After a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Hawks have struggled mightily on the road to open the year.

Atlanta opened the season just 1-5 away from home before entering the tough back-to-back set against the top two teams in the Western Conference in the Golden State Warriors and the Jazz.

The Hawks numbers are down across the board when they play on the road versus at home, with fewer shot attempts from both the three-point line and the free-throw line, and fewer points, steals, blocks, and assists.

And while the Hawks have just one win on the season on the road, they’ve been beaten only once in four tries in Atlanta.

Last Time Jazz And Hawks Met

Tuesday’s meeting will mark the final matchup of the season for these two teams as the Jazz traveled to Atlanta and beat the Hawks last Thursday.

The Jazz were playing without Donovan Mitchell who missed the game due to a right ankle sprain suffered against the Sacramento Kings last Tuesday. Mitchell has since returned to the lineup and averaged 29 points and seven assists over his last two games.

The @utahjazz got a huge second half from Jordan Clarkson as they moved to 7-1 with a win over the @ATLHawks. #takenote https://t.co/sVHWCmAJim

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 5, 2021

In his absence, guard Jordan Clarkson had his lone strong performance of the season. The defending Sixth Man of the Year who has struggled mightily through 10 games scored a season-high 30 points including 25 points in the second half as the Jazz scored 77 points over the third and fourth quarters to dispose of the Hawks 116-98.

Atlanta guard Trae Young struggled against the Jazz scoring 21 points on 8-20 shooting while missing all four of his attempts from behind the three-point line.

Broadcast

The Jazz and Hawks will tip-off at 7 pm MT, the game can be heard on The Zone Sports Network 97.5 FM and 1280 AM, and will be televised on AT&T SportsNet.

Follow @benshoops