The Utah Jazz are fresh off of an unexpected 2 game losing skid, and they’ll be looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat in tonight’s rematch with the Atlanta Hawks. As an interconference contest, this game will wrap up the season series between these two teams. The Hawks will certainly be motivated to even the score, but the Jazz should be equally motivated to regain the positive momentum the team was enjoying prior to their last two games. When these two teams squared off on November 4th, they had a closer contest than the final 116-98 score may suggest. The Hawks entered the fourth quarter with a one point deficit, and then they utterly collapsed.
Tonight, the Jazz should aim to ensure this contest looks finished before the fourth quarter begins.
Utah Jazz vs Atlanta Hawks Key #1: Shooting efficiency
One of the most impressive aspects of the Jazz’s November 4th win over the Hawks was that it came in the absence of Donovan Mitchell. The dynamic scoring guard will be suiting up for tonight’s contest against Atlanta. In the last matchup, Jordan Clarkson stepped up in his star teammate’s absence, and gave the Jazz by far his best performance of the season.
Neither of Utah’s two most talented shot creators have been particularly efficient to begin the 2021-22 NBA season. Clarkson has been particularly woeful. He’s shooting 34.4% from the field and 21.7% from three-point range. Mitchell has been better, but don’t construe that fact as meaning that he’s been good. He’s shooting 41.8% from the field and 29.9% from three-point range.
The Utah Jazz will need at least one of the two to connect on their shot attempts to come away from this contest with a win. Their fans got a taste of how this team looks when they both struggle against the tanking Orlando Magic in their last game. Mitchell shot 8/24 from the field, Clarkson connected on 2/13 attempts, and the Jazz walked away with a loss to one of the NBA’s premier basement dwellers.
To come away with a victory over a much stronger Atlanta Hawks team, somebody is going to need to put the ball in the basket with a semblance of consistency.