Utah Jazz showman records a first with the franchise

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Jordan Clarkson finally dished out double-digit dimes in a Utah Jazz game.

No Donovan Mitchell and no Mike Conley? No worries.

The Utah Jazz full-time backcourt starters sat out Wednesday night’s tail end of a back-to-back in Salt Lake City. And although Jordan Clarkson remained in his reserve role, the third-year Utah guard stepped up as a facilitator throughout the team’s 137-101 blowout victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder (24-56).

For Clarkson, the result was his first double-double in a Jazz jersey (the sixth double-double of his eight-year NBA career and only the fourth via points and assists).

As one of six Jazzmen finishing with double-digits in the scoring column, the 29-year-old “Flame Thrower” totaled 18 points and 10 assists across his 29 minutes on the floor. He shot 7-for-11 from the field and 4-for-6 beyond the arc.

Other notable Utah Jazz performances against the Thunder

Utah rookie guard Jared Butler also delivered 10 assists, besting his previous career-high of seven. But he came up short of double-double status, scoring only seven points. His 30 minutes off the bench were his second-most minutes in an NBA game.

Meanwhile, Jazz center Rudy Gobert joined Jordan Clarkson in notching a double-double. Of course, Gobert’s — his 51st in 64 appearances this season — was of the points-rebounds variety with 20 points and 10 boards in 26 minutes.

Also playing 26 minutes, Bojan Bogdanovic led the way for Utah in the scoring column with a game-high 27 points.

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The Jazz (48-32), who already locked up a playoff spot with their win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, now have one day off before hosting the league-best Phoenix Suns (63-17) at 7:30 p.m. MT Friday.

Utah is No. 5 in the Western Conference standings, one game ahead of the Denver Nuggets (47-33), with two games left on the slate. In other words, the clash with the Suns could be a preview of the Western Conference Semifinals should both squads advance past the first round of the NBA Playoffs, which begin at the end of next week.

Next. Jordan Clarkson delivers ridiculous highlight reel. dark

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