Jazz Hold Magic To Shockingly Poor Offensive Performance
Feb 1, 2025, 6:36 PM | Updated: Feb 2, 2025, 2:27 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz snapped their season-high eight-game losing streak with a 113-99 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Collin Sexton scored a team-high 22 points to lead the Jazz while Franz Wagner scored 37 to lead Orlando.
Game Blog: Magic No Match For Jazz In Utah
Jazz Blast Offensively Inept Magic
The Magic entered Saturday’s game with the second-worst offensive rating in the NBA, leading only the six-win Washington Wizards.
Against the Jazz, they show why they’re one of the worst offenses in the league.
The Magic managed just 99 points on 30-91 shooting including 9-41 from the three-point line.
“It was a big emphasis for us to protect the paint and make them make some outside shots to beat us,” Lauri Markkanen said.
The Magic shot below 50 percent inside the paint, including just 10-28 outside of the restricted area.
🔁 good defense leads to strong offense 🔁#TakeNote | @WalkerKessler13 pic.twitter.com/wB6dHSttPo
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 1, 2025
It’s only the second time the Jazz have held an opponent below 38 percent shooting as a team this season, but it’s no coincidence that the other instance also came against the Magic when the Jazz beat them 105-92 in Orlando.
All-Star Paolo Banchero was the Magic’s worst offender on the offensive end managing nine points on 4-19 shooting, but second-year lottery picks Anthony Black and Jett Howard’s combined 3-17 shooting performance did little to ease their woes.
“I thought Walker [Kessler], Lauri, and John [Collins] did a really good job setting the tone of the game with Banchero,” Hardy said. “They did a good job of using their length. They did a good job being physical.”
The Jazz held an opponent below 100 points for just the fifth time this season.
While the Magic struggled to score, the Jazz held their own against Orlando’s third-ranked defense.
As a team, the Jazz shot 46 percent from the floor, 40 percent from three, and 87 percent from the free-throw line, with six different players scoring in double-digits.
Jazz Youth Finding Voice After Mills Trade
When the Jazz signed guard Patty Mills in the offseason, they wanted the veteran’s voice to be heard in the young locker room.
Due to their overall inexperience, and coincidence of personality, the Jazz had largely been a group of introverts in a league that requires vocal leaders.
After spending 46 games in Utah, Mills’ outspoken ways rubbed off on his younger teammates.
“I think we have some personalities that are coming out of their shell, Taylor [Hendricks is] talking a lot, which has been really fun to see,” Hardy said. “Taylor likes to give me a hard time, which I also get a kick out of. I think Isaiah [Collier], as the season has gone on, has opened up more.”
Isaiah Collier discussed his natural leadership abilities that come from playing point guard his whole life. #TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/KkrHeofRMe
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 2, 2025
Related: Jazz Trade Eubanks, Mills To Clippers For Tucker, Bamba
Hendricks was soft-spoken during his rookie campaign, and after suffering a season-ending injury just three games into his sophomore year could have sunken further away from the roster.
Collier, now the Jazz’s starting point guard was also quiet after joining the team in the summer, but has found his voice within the team’s locker room.
“To call anybody a full-fledged extrovert that’s emerged — I’m not sure, but I do see some of the younger players becoming more comfortable with their teammates and the coaches,” Hardy concluded. “Everybody is starting to give us a little bit more insight into their personality, their sense of humor, and we’ve got a really good group of guys.”
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will host the Indiana Pacers on Monday at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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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, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
