The Utah Jazz (6-6) picked up two wins against the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors and a loss to the Dallas Mavericks coming off a three straight losses the week before.
Utah beat Atlanta 97-96 and Toronto 93-89 three days later. Dallas came out on top over Utah 102-93.
The Jazz shot 51.1 percent in its 97-96 victory over the Hawks on Sunday, Nov. 25. Utah utilized a “three-wing” lineup in the final 10 minutes, allowing them to overcome a three-point deficit and come away with a win. It was the longest period of time the Jazz have used this style of lineup so far this season.
Forward Derrick Favors returned to play in front of his hometown of Atlanta, scoring 23 points and recording nine rebounds. Guard Alec Burks had 18 points and six rebounds off the bench. Center Rudy Gobert returned to play after spraining his ankle against Cleveland the previous week and had 11 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and three blocks.
The Jazz came home to beat the Toronto Raptors 93-89 on Wednesday, Nov. 18 in its first home game in over a week. The key stretch came when Favors led a fourth-quarter rally. Favors hit a crucial 3-pointer, made a two-handed dunk and hit the second free throw in the final 40 seconds of the game to seal the win.
Utah shot 48.6 percent as Favors scored 18 points while forward Gordon Hayward and guard Rodney Hood scored 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Snyder said the Raptors raised their level and got more physical in the third quarter, but the Jazz were slow to respond.
“I thought that, as the game progressed, we got a better feel for it and we got tougher,” Snyder said.
Hood agreed and said the team started playing better late in the game.
“In the fourth quarter, we just started attacking the rim and we got open shots and they just went in,” Hood said.
A Dallas Mavericks team full of veterans proved to be too much for the second youngest team in the NBA in a 102-93 loss Friday, Nov. 20. Utah trailed by as many as 20 points but came back within five points in the last couple minutes of the game. Hayward led the Jazz with 22 points and seven rebounds while Favors had 18 points and seven rebounds.
It was a reunion of sorts for the Jazz to play against Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews and Jeremy Evans. Williams led the Mavericks with 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 19.
The Jazz will play the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. MST, travel to play the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 8:30 p.m. MST and return home to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. MST.
