Cleveland • Within the first few minutes of Monday’s game, it was apparent that the Jazz would generate more than enough open looks against the Cavaliers’ iffy defense.
And once Utah got out of its own way and decided to, you know, stop turning the ball over and stop missing those nobody-even-close shots, things went pretty well.
The Jazz’s offense registered its most efficient performance in a minute, as the team opened its four-game road trip by rolling to its second straight victory — 126-113 over the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Field House.
Utah shot 56.6% from the field, plus 48.8% on 41 tries from deep, and totaled 30 assists on 47 baskets against its hopelessly lost Cleveland counterparts.
“We are back in a rhythm. This is a great way to start this road trip,” said Bojan Bogdanovic. “… I mean, it’s just great to see the ball going through the net. And if the team wins, that’s most important.”
Bogey, of course, was instrumental in that, leading six Jazz players in double-figure scoring with 28 points (to go along with seven rebounds and six assists).
“He was just making the right plays tonight, and that was the biggest thing — he was just continuing to be aggressive,” said Donovan Mitchell. “We wanted him to be aggressive and not really overthink it.”
Rudy Gobert added 20 points (plus nine rebounds and five blocks). Despite going scoreless until just before halftime, Mitchell wound up contributing 19 points, as well as nine boards and four assists. Mike Conley totaled 15 points and six assists. Royce O’Neale added 12 point and seven boards. And in his first game back in Cleveland since his pre-Christmas trade, sixth man Jordan Clarkson contributed 13 points.
All of which helped to counteract going just 4 of 11 to start the game, to say nothing of committing 15 turnovers that led to 21 points for Cleveland.
“We played together. … There were good waves,” said coach Quin Snyder. “I was happy with, offensively, the way that we were really committed to moving the ball.”
Still, while the Jazz finally went up for good with about three minutes left before halftime, and even expanded their advantage to as many as 18 points, their own continuing defensive miscues prevented a truly comfortable victory.
Even if the outcome was never truly in doubt, they kept letting the Cavs hang around.
The Cavs scored 62 points in the second half. They wound up shooting 46.2% for the game, and hit 17 of 41 3-pointers themselves (41.5%). They racked up 18 fast-break points, as well as 11 offensive rebounds.
“I think the first half we played a great game, and then in the third quarter and fourth quarter, we gave them a lot of easy offensive boards, easy putbacks,” said Bogdanovic. “We’ve gotta be better on that — every single time we’ve gotta take responsibility and box out.”
As a result, Utah’s primary rotation guys wound up staying in long past the point their services should have been required.
“We gave up 113 points; in the last game they had 119 — so we still have work to do,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, we’re happy with the wins, but for us to really get over that hump and where we really want to be, we’ve got to hold teams a little lower than that.”
Again, though, the ease with which they got the ball in the hoop themselves wound up proving more than adequate on this occasion.
In the first period, they drove the lane with little resistance, racking up 18 points in the paint in that 12-minute span alone.
In the second, they overcame a momentary dry spell — going on a blitz in the final minutes, highlighted by an incredible jumping pass from Mitchell to Conley in the right corner, whose 3 at the horn touched only net.
After struggling of late coming out of halftime, on this occasion, Utah began the second half on a 6-0 run that spurred a quick timeout from Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Another Conley trey near the quarter’s end slowed the Cavs’ momentum.
The point guard was pleased afterward with how everyone contributed.
“Not looking just to score but make plays for each other; and all season long when we do that, it’s contagious and it’s just fun to be out there when we’re playing like that,” Conley said. “Guys just started rolling from the beginning and it was a fun night.”
