We may have changed everything this summer in Utah, the Jazz is still a stronghold of the League. In any case, that’s what one might think following the stinging defeat inflicted by Will Hardy’s men on the Denver Nuggets. 123-102, that’s 21 points difference and a lot of good for the people of Salt Lake City.
The Utah Jazz franchise got a facelift this summer. Exit Quin Snyder, emblematic coach of the Mormons between 2014 and 2022. Exit the stars, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, parties respectively in Cleveland and Minnesota. Hello Will Hardy, a young, very young coach, the youngest in the League before Joe Mazzulla picked up the pans from Ime Udoka in Boston. And hello tanking so, with the same target as everyone else in their sights, Victor Wembanyama.
We might therefore expect a one-sided game once morest the Denver Nuggets. In Colorado, the returns of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. following a white season (and almost white for the second) augured a welcome revival alongside reigning double MVP Nikola Jokić. So we had what we expected: a one-way match, a team that leaves nothing to the other from start to finish. But obviously and you have understood it, it is the Jazz who took on the role of the executioner in this affair, with strong men who were not necessarily expected. Lauri Markkanen was good: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, Rudy Gay and his 16 units too, but the one we expected the most was there. Collin Sexton gave us a nice 20 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, off the bench pleasebesides, we can’t wait for him to be a starter and at 100%.
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/ pic.twitter.com/eYvhX6mTlD— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 20, 2022
And all that gave a big lead very early on: 37-30 at the end of the first quarter, 75-53 at halftime, game already folded, thank you and good night. It must be said that the Nuggets never really knew how to wake up and seemed to accept this defeat from the start. Aaron Gordon and his double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, accompanied by Nikola Jokić and his 27 points tried to catch up with their team in the third quarter. An insufficient effort as the difference in level was seen this evening. A result that does not call into question either side, but which will give some comfort to Jazz fans, used to winning and who will have to learn to do the opposite.
Nice victory for the Jazz which would almost make us believe that it will win a few games this season. Well, for that, the carrot at the end of the tank would have had to be not as beautiful as it is this year. Come on, let’s say this game will serve as a transition between two eras in Utah.
