Rick Bowmer / Associated Press
The Utah Jazz may be playing more important games against the Los Angeles Lakers, but they earned temporary bragging rights on Wednesday.
Utah defeated Los Angeles 114-89 in a possible showdown with the Western Conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson took the lead in a balanced effort for the winners, who are an NBA best 26-6 and 11-1 in the last 12 games.
Steady performances from LeBron James and Montrezl Harrell were not enough for the 22-11 Lakers, who are still without Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder and have now lost four in a row.
Remarkable player statistics
- Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 13 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL
- Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 18 PTS, 9 REB
- Mike Conley, G, UTA: 14 PTS, 8 AST, 8 REB, 2 STL, 4-of-6 3PT
- Jordan Clarkson, G, UTA: 18 PTS, 4 REB
- LeBron James, F, LAL: 19 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST
- Montrezl Harrell, F, LAL: 16 PTS, 6 REB
Balanced Jazz Steamroll Lakers in Statement Win
The Jazz can only prove themselves to doubters after the play-offs after two live outings in the first round, but dealing with the defending champion in a national broadcast was an opportunity to make a statement.
Perhaps it was fitting, then, that the underrated Conley was the best player on the floor, just one day after being taken out of the All-Star series, right outside the gates. He immediately caught fire from deep down as he managed the offense and controlled the pace.
It was by no means a one-man show, as the Jazz led by 16 points. Clarkson was electrically off the bench, Bojan Bogdanovic found his shot from deep and Gobert controlled the boards.
The fact that Utah had such an advantage by interruption against a championship candidate, even though All-Star Mitchell shot just 1-out-8 from the field, underscored the team’s overall depth.
In honor of Mitchell, he found other ways to influence the game, even if his shot didn’t fall. He worked with Gobert and Derrick Favors in a pick-and-roll to create an easy look at the edge for the big ones and even from the backcourt to fight plates.
The effort helped the Jazz keep rolling until the second half, especially when he connected from deep and ended up in the lane to bolster his own scores.
Six players scored double figures for Utah, further proving that it does not have to rely on one or two guys to win every night. There is shooting outside, edge protection, a steady point guard in Conley and an option that can lighten the scoreboard or create for others in Mitchell.
The Jazz are a contestant in the championship, and they looked like Wednesday.
LeBron plays fewer minutes in blowout
There is good news and bad news for the Lakers at the moment.
The good news is that they know they need no advantage in the home field to win a title after doing so last season at the Walt Disney World Resort. The regular season is just a dress rehearsal for a team that is in championship-or-bus mode and will be much better off if Davis and Schroder return.
The bad news is that the Lakers have been looking just as vulnerable since the playless 2018-19 campaign, and they are lying miles and miles on the 36-year-old James’ legs. In fact, he averaged 38.2 minutes per night in February after playing 43 in the Washington Wizards’ overtime loss.
Los Angeles could not have been much worse in the early stages, especially not on the defensive side, as Utah connected on an open perimeter and had many open lanes to the edge.
If there were silver lining, it was the realization that LeBron would not have to carry so much of the cargo in an eruption time.
Even when he was there for much of the third quarter, the king suited out-jumpers and did not exactly serve on opponents or chase anyone into the open floor. However, he was still offensively the best option, with a gentle touch from midfield and the ability to overwhelm defenders on select possessions to the edge.
It wasn’t nearly enough against the red-hot Jazz, but James had to sit for at least the entire fourth quarter.
What’s next?
Both teams are in action Friday when the Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers and the Jazz travel to face the Miami Heat.