9) November 15th at Atlanta – Jazz Survive Millsap’s Onslaught
Utah Jazz 97 – Atlanta Hawks 96
This game might have finished higher on the list had it not been so early in the year and thus held seemingly more importance. The game was your classic neck-and-neck back and forth kind of bout that makes NBA fans giddy. Plus, playing the Hawks and seeing former Jazz favorites Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver is always a treat.
And Paul Millsap had himself a game that night as he went 10 of 18 from the field with 28 points. But what made the game so exciting was that, fortunately for the Jazz, the guy going head-to-head with Millsap, Derrick Favors, battled right along with the Hawks veteran.
Favors finished the night with 23 points including the mid-range jumper that would eventually go on to seal the win once Millsap’s game winner in the final seconds fell short. It was one of those performances where Favors proved he can battle with the best at his position across the league and that he has the tools to become the 20-10 guy that the Jazz desperately need.
This game was a classic not only because it was a nail-biter that came down to the last shot, but also because it was a solid early road win against a formidable Atlanta Hawks team. At the time, it put the Jazz at 5-5 and helped them snap out of a rugged three-game losing streak.
Next: No. 8