Utah Jazz at Cleveland Cavaliers: Keys to stealing a huge win

Key #2 – Win the three-point battle

It’s no secret that the Cleveland Cavaliers are a team that relies heavily (and often thrives) on the three-point shot. They’re third in the NBA in three-point attempts at 32.8 per game and are converting at the league’s seventh highest rate of 37.9 percent.

The Jazz haven’t relied quite as heavily on the deep ball, but when they do and they’re hitting, they’ve been incredible this season. The Jazz are just 11th in the league in attempts from deep at 30 per contest, but third in the league in three-point percentage at an astounding 38.7 percent.

And one of the main differences in several of both teams’ victories and defeats has been how well they’ve shot the three. In wins, the Cavs are putting up 33.1 shots from deep, as opposed to 31.9 in losses, and converting on 13.3 in wins, compared to 10.1 in losses. The Jazz, meanwhile, are attempting 31 threes in wins as opposed to 29.1 in losses and making nearly four more in wins than in losses – 13.5 compared to 9.9.

Therefore, given that both teams have been extremely accurate from behind the arc this season, whichever squad is able to get up more good looks from three will likely arise victorious. The Jazz are 10-3 when they make at least 13 threes whereas all of Cleveland’s losses have come in games where they’ve made 12 or less (they’re just 8-8 in such situations).

If the Jazz are able to orchestrate that kind of game where they convert on their magic number of 13 while holding the Cavs to 12 or less, they could very well come out with the surprise victory.