Jazz Vs. Heat: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz host the Miami Heat in the second of two consecutive games at home.

The Jazz have won six straight games, and 17 of their last 18 owning the best record in the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have found their winning ways lately after a slow start to the season, and carry a four-game winning streak into Salt Lake City.

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

Coaches Quotes

The Jazz have a quick turnaround after facing Milwaukee last night. The Bucks are one of the more unique teams in the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the best offensive in the NBA, so to turn around and face Miami with no true shootaround is a tough task for the Jazz.

I asked Quin Snyder if it's hard to make such a quick turn around after playing one of the more unique Milwaukee rosters last night.

"Miami is unique in their approach and they play so hard, and are so unselfish. You saw that this summer what they were able to do."

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 14, 2021

“Miami is unique,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “Unique in their approach and they play so hard, and are so unselfish. I think you saw that this summer of what you know they were able to do.”

One trend I’ve started to notice during an opposing team’s pregame availability is how obviously aware they are of what Rudy Gobert offers the Jazz, even when a question being asked to him has nothing to do with the Jazz center.

Ira Winder who covers the Heat for the Sun Sentinal asked Erik Spoelstra how difficult it is to defend the Jazz three-point shooting attack, and without hesitation Spo credited Gobert.

“They’re not just built on the three-point shot. They have a great rim threat with Gobert.”

Coaches don’t react to the outcome of a play, they tend to focus on what happened to create the play, and by Spoelstra’s answer, you can see how much focus there is on Gobert.

Starting Lineups

Starting lineups for the @utahjazz and @MiamiHEAT. pic.twitter.com/cwug4IZ7qe

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 14, 2021

First Quarter

• Bojan Bogdanovic gets his first basket of the game on a post-up. He did that well against Milwaukee, and should be able to get it anytime he wants against Duncan Robinson.
• Zone defense makes it harder to run the pick and roll for the Jazz to open the game, hence no penetration early. The one time Gobert had the ball the defense collapsed. It’ll take a bit to adjust to for the Jazz.

Fast start from the @miamiheat who fluster the @utahjazz with their mixture of man and zone defense to open the game.

Jazz trail 7-2 with 7:48 left in the first. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

• Bogdanovic realized the Jazz were struggling to get good looks and started looking to create for himself and it’s paid off. He’s got 6 points early.
• Donovan Mitchell coming back in with two fouls in the first quarter will make him a target for the Heat defense. He’s got to be careful.

A rugged first quarter for the @utahjazz and the @miamiheat gives the visitors a 21-18 lead at the end of one.

Boan Bogdanovic leads the Jazz with 7 points, while Jimmy Butler has 6 for the Heat. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/yuExOfYCAd

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

Second Quarter

• After missing three straight dunks over the last week, Donovan Mitchell gets an easy finish at the rim, and appears to still have some legs. Good sign.

The @utahjazz have found a spark in the second quarter and trail the @MiamiHEAT 31-29.

Donovan Mitchell leads all scorers with 9 points. 9:02 left in the half. #takenote pic.twitter.com/CxwLW152v8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

• Here’s why I believe in what the Jazz are doing. The Jazz are getting nothing from their three-point shooting (3-20) or Gobert (2 points). But, they found something in their floor spacing 3/4s in Bogey and Niang and are beating Miami by 4. They have a ton of contingencies.
• Impressive defensive half for the Jazz who hold Miai to just 42 points on 37 percent shooting from the floor and 33 percent from three.

At the half the @utahjazz lead the @miamiheat 47-42.

Not a pretty game, but the Jazz are finding a way to get it done on the defensive end.

Bojan Bogdanovic leads the Jazz with 13, Donovan Mitchell has 10. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/xDDvm24FMs

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

Third Quarter

• The Jazz open the quarter with seven straight points from Donovan Mitchell and have built the lead to 12.
• Miami didn’t score for almost the full first six minutes of the third quarter and believe it or not, the Jazz are up by 20 once again.

Big run = Big lead 😎 #TakeNote #MIAatUTA https://t.co/QrPrg03Bz3

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

• Miami plays really hard but doesn’t have enough offense, especially with Goran Dragic out of the lineup.
• They could desperately use a Victor Oladipo or Bradley Beal on this roster, and they’d be right back into the Eastern Conference Playoff picture.

The @utahjazz lead by 21 heading into the final quarter against the @MiamiHeat.

Jazz up 78-57.

Donovan Mitchell has 18, Bogey has 16, Niang has 14. #takeNote pic.twitter.com/3ld5alvDnh

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 14, 2021

Fourth Quarter

• The Jazz let Miami hang around a little more than Quin Snyder has liked which resulted in two timeouts in nearly back to back possessions.
• Ultimately a few timely three-pointers keeps this game around the 20 point mark.

The @utahjazz win again!

They beat the @miamiheat 112-94 on the second night of a back to back.

Donovan Mitchell leads the Jazz with 26 points on 9-12 shooting. #takeNote pic.twitter.com/DskSnemhDK

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 14, 2021