This Jazz Player Made Team History Against the Mavericks
There was plenty of well-rounded action that happened around the NBA during New Year’s Day. In a commanding 127-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz shooting guard Jordan Clarkson made team history by recording a triple-double, the first by a Jazz player during the regular season since February 13th, 2008. That’s 1,256 regular season games since Carlos Boozer recorded his triple-double almost sixteen years ago, and it also happened to be the longest drought during the regular season in NBA history, until Clarkson snapped it last night. Let’s look at how Jordan Clarkson and the rest of the Utah Jazz are performing this season.
In 28 minutes off the bench, Jordan Clarkson dropped 20 points, along with recording ten rebounds, eleven assists, and a steal. Simone Fontecchio led the Jazz in scoring with 24 points during their crushing victory over the Mavs. With the win last night, Utah is currently 15-19, 12th in the Western Conference. They trail the Los Angeles Lakers by two games for the tenth seed, and they have plenty of time to make a win streak happen. If you look at this Jazz team, they play great at home having a 10-5 record in Utah, but on the road, they're horrendous posting a 5-14 record. There are too many Western Conference foes that have also been playing phenomenally during the first third of the season at home. Looking at the top four teams in the West, Minnesota is 14-1 at home, Oklahoma City has gone 13-5, Denver is 14-3, and the Clippers 14-4. Utah has a great young core, and if they can find a way to exceed on the road, while still playing well at home, this Jazz team could possibly be in the talks for the playoffs come April.
In 23 games played, Jordan Clarkson is averaging about 17 points, three rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 30 minutes of action. Two seasons ago, Clarkson dropped his career-high in points against the Sacramento Kings going 15 for 21 from the field with 45 points during a 134-125 win. Utah can take an easy win on Wednesday if they don’t play terribly against the league’s worst team this season, the Detroit Pistons. After that, they’ll go on a three-game road trip against some Eastern Conference powerhouses. If this team can win two or all three games against the Celtics, 76ers, and Bucks respectively, this Jazz team might have something special cooking this season.
