Sloppy Second Quarter Dooms Jazz In Loss To Magic
Nov 2, 2023, 10:55 PM
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson drives against Gary Harris of the Orlando Magic. (Credit: Megan Nielsen, Deseret News)
(Credit: Megan Nielsen, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz were bullied at home as the Orlando Magic stole a 115-113 win in Salt Lake City.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points, including back-to-back clutch threes in the final 90 seconds to take a one point lead, but a Paolo Banchero layup, and a missed Talen Horton-Tucker three gave Orlando the win,
Banchero poured in 30 points, including 10 straight in the fourth quarter, to send the Magic home with a hard-earned victory.
Miserable Second Quarter Proves Fatal For Jazz
After building a 34-30 lead in the first quarter, the Jazz were outscored 36-24 in the second quarter leading to an eight point deficit at the half.
The Jazz allowed the Magic to shoot 52 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three in the second period while earning seven trips to the free-throw line.
While the Magic thrived, the Jazz struggled to maintain any offensive momentum shooting just 38 percent in the quarter including 16 percent from three.
“Winning the first quarter, the third quarter, and the fourth quarter was fantastic,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “But we sort of lost our minds in the second quarter for a bit there.”
You can argue that the @utahjazz are cold, but nearly every @OrlandoMagic shot is coming inside the paint and most Jazz shots are coming from 15 feet and out.
Orlando knows the Jazz aren’t offering much resistance at the rim and they are attacking every chance they get.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 3, 2023
Beginning at the 6:20 mark and the 1:47 mark of the second quarter the Magic reeled off an 18-3 run as they shot 7-10 from the floor, held the Jazz to 0-7 shooting, while forcing four turnovers, and five missed shots in the paint.
During the stretch, the Jazz’s six point lead turned into a nine point deficit, a gap they wouldn’t fully erase until there were just 14 seconds left in the game.
Ultimately, Banchero’s late layup was enough to lift the hungrier Magic over the Jazz who now embark on a four-game midwestern road trip.
Jazz Guards Embarrassed By Magic Backcourt
It was a tough night for the Jazz backcourt, specifically veterans Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson.
After both had strong nights on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, the two highest-paid guards left much to be desired against Orlando.
Clarkson was the worst offender who despite scoring 21 points shot just 5-20 from the floor including 2-8 from three and turned the ball over six times.
The guard repeatedly found himself too deep in the paint with nowhere to go against the Magic’s long defenders and simply threw the ball away.
Clarkson has now turned the ball over 23 times in six games, or just over 3.8 giveaways per contest.
Cole Anthony Black @The_ColeAnthony x @AnthonyBlack24_ pic.twitter.com/4i7AWU9kMb
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 3, 2023
Sexton’s main issues were on the defensive end where he was prone to ball-watching the Magic, only to get backdoored by his man for an easy layup.
Cole Anthony and Anthony Black shot a combined 6-7 inside the restricted area against the Jazz after getting repeated easy looks at the rim.
Sexton also forced a shot late in the third quarter when the Jazz were on a roll, challenging a bigger Magic defender in the paint when he had Markkanen defended by the smaller Anthony, and a wide-open Simone Fontecchio in the corner.
The Jazz didn’t lose solely because of Clarkson and Sexton, but a better game from either veteran guard would have likely pushed the team over the top.
Nightly Awards
The ‘I Think He Played Well But I’m Not Positive’ Award:
This award goes to John Collins who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and had his best three-point shooting night of the season knocking down 3-4 from downtown.
However, his lone miss from three came late in the fourth quarter, and he was tasked with defending Banchero on the game-deciding layup.
After the game, Will Hardy said the Jazz help defenders needed to do a better job of communicating with Collins where he needs to shade the ballhandler, but regardless, it proved to be the deciding basket.
Collins net zero plus-minus is a sign he played pretty well, but not well enough to win the game.
The ‘Welcome To The NBA, Rook’ Award:
This goes to Anthony Black who after a very rocky start to his career was terrific against the Jazz, specifically in the fourth quarter.
Black, the sixth overall pick in the draft had scored five total points this season before traveling to Utah.
He scored five points in the fourth quarter alone, and nine for the game on a perfect 4-4 shooting to go with three rebounds, an assist, and two steals in 16 minutes against the Jazz.
Utah Jazz Next Game
The Jazz will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday at 6 pm MST on the road. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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 or on Instagram @BensHoops.
