Feb 12, 2025; Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz ahead Lauri Markkanen (23) dunks through the second half towards the Los Angeles Lakers at Delta Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Pictures After a powerful house victory towards a Los Angeles crew on Wednesday, the Utah Jazz are hoping to beat one other L.A. squad on Thursday to cap a back-to-back set in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Two nights after getting blown out by 19 factors towards the Lakers, the Jazz responded with their very own one-sided victory, 131-119 versus LeBron James, Luka Doncic & Co on Wednesday.
Utah will host the Clippers on Thursday within the groups’ remaining sport earlier than the All-Star break.
The Thursday contest is the rematch of a Saturday sport in Los Angeles. Ivica Zubac made 13 of 16 photographs for 26 factors and grabbed 15 rebounds whereas Norman Powell additionally scored 26 within the Clippers’ 130-110 win over the Jazz.
“I am going to do no matter it takes. I take my time and see how the protection performs me,” Zubac stated after the win over Utah. “I have never been seeing plenty of double-teams currently, so it is about chopping to the basket and making the appropriate reads.”
Just like the Jazz, the Clippers are coming into the Thursday sport with no relaxation. On Wednesday, L.A. defeated the Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies 128-114 earlier than flying from Los Angeles to Salt Lake Metropolis.
Bogdan Bogdanovic made his debut with the Clippers after being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks final week. He completed with seven factors on 3-of-4 capturing and added two rebounds, one help and a steal in 18 minutes.
“He’ll be a shooter and provides me a runner coming off screens,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated about Bogdanovic after the commerce. “He has nice capturing and passing potential.”
Bogdanovic stated, “Followers perhaps see me as only a shooter, however I can create loads and use my IQ. This is likely one of the finest organizations within the league and I am solely wanting ahead. It is a new crew and a brand new alternative.”
Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, after lacking the Saturday matchup towards the Clippers, is coming off of a terrific efficiency towards the Lakers. He scored 32 factors, outshining James, Doncic and the remainder of the Lakers, within the shocking blowout victory. The consequence snapped a three-game shedding streak for Utah, which has solely received 13 video games this season.
Jordan Clarkson, who netted 24 factors vs. the Clippers final weekend, had 21 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists towards the Lakers. Walker Kessler, absent from the Saturday sport, went 8-for-8 from the sector for 16 factors on Wednesday. He added eight rebounds, six blocked photographs and two steals.
Utah shot 52.3 p.c and dished out 30 assists whereas downing the Lakers.
“It is a actually good bounce-back win,” Jazz coach Will Hardy stated. “I assumed our general effort, tenacity, competitiveness and simply the fly-around issue was totally different tonight than it was within the final sport. …
“The gamers deserve all of the credit score. They’re all powerful. They’re all good. They’re all actually good human beings. They’re good teammates. They’re respectful folks that have humility and so they take teaching. They take possession of the issues that they should do higher.”
The Jazz will want one other robust effort to register a second win in a row, which they’ve managed to do solely twice all season. They’ve but to supply a three-game successful streak.
The Clippers have received two in a row following a three-game skid.
–Area Degree Media
