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Utah Jazz vs. New York Knicks: Keys to a two-game winning streak

By Jared Woodcox

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on November 15, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on November 15, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz is congratulated by teammates after he made a dunk against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on January 17, 2018 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz is congratulated by teammates after he made a dunk against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on January 17, 2018 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Key #1 – Maintain confidence

The Kings have been so bad this year that they’ve allowed almost any opposing team to look confident and effective against them. Nevertheless, there’s still no denying that the Jazz played with a little extra swagger and spring in their step on Wednesday. Therefore, rather than fall back down to earth and play uninspired ball like they did in Monday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Jazz need to instead keep that confidence that they played with on Wednesday and harness it tonight.

Despite recent shooting slumps for both Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles, the two of them seemingly snapped out of it in Sacramento as they did a great job of finding the bottom of the net. Hood went 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-9 from deep while Ingles went 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep. Hood displayed an array of offensive weapons aside from his three-point shot and it was a nice little bounce-back game for him after being the recipient of some boos at home on Monday.

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/953864424527286273

And although Donovan Mitchell has proven himself as the leader of this team, the Jazz are truly at their best when Ingles and Hood step up, play confidently and hit their shots. If those two keep the mentality and hot hand that they had in Sacramento and bring it into tonight’s contest, it will likely go a long ways towards earning their team a victory.

Not only that, but Utah center Rudy Gobert is also probable to make a return tonight after missing the last 14 games with a knee injury and although he’ll likely be on a minutes restriction, his mere presence alone should be enough to inject some life, passion and, of course, staunch interior defense into the Jazz.

With the confidence from a recent win mixed with the excitement of a Rudy Gobert return coming together, expect an energetic and upbeat Jazz team to thoroughly challenge a middling Knicks squad.

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