How The Jazz Have Won 15 Of Their Last 16 Games

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz are in the midst of one of the best stretches in franchise history, having won 15 of 16 games, and owning the best record in the NBA at 19-5. While the Jazz three-point shooting has fueled much of their success, it’s the team’s versatility that has allowed them to win so many games over the last month.

Like all teams, the Jazz have seen their share of adversity this season, and have found ways to navigate those issues while staying successful.

After Sunday’s win over the Indiana Pacers, a game the Jazz won on short rest, on the road, the end a three-game road trip, without starting point guard Mike Conley, coach Quin Snyder discussed how his team is winning games in a variety of ways.

“I think our guys are doing a really good job of executing in a game plan,” Snyder said. “And they’re also connected enough that they’re making adjustments on their own in specific situations.”

So, with a stretch of 15 wins in the last 30 days for the Jazz, here is a quick summary of each game, and how the Jazz won.

1/8: Jazz 131 – 118 Bucks

The @utahjazz set a new franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a game during the fourth quarter of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks.@kslsports #TakeNotehttps://t.co/SDHCmbjxSE

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) January 9, 2021

How They Won: Red Hot Shooting

If you were to draw up the ideal gamelan of how the Jazz are designed to win games, this is it. The Jazz hit a then-record 25 three-pointers to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on the road to start their hot streak.

Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 32 points, Jordan Clarkson scored 26 points off the bench, while five players in total scored in double-digits.

However, the Jazz did win the game without the services of Joe Ingles who missed his first games after making 418 consecutive appearances.

1/10: Jazz 96 – 86 Pistons

The @UtahJazz win over the short-handed @DetroitPistons was ugly.

So why did both Quin Snyder and Donovan Mitchell label it as a "good win?"#TakeNote https://t.co/nQjXTb8tXb

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 10, 2021

How They Won: Big Lead, Great Defense, Ugly Win

The Jazz didn’t have to wait long in their streak to learn how to win in the face of adversity. After building a 20 point lead, the Detroit Pistons turned the game into an ugly slugfest in the second half in which the Jazz shot 30 percent from the floor and 20 percent from three.

Mitchell and Conley combined for 50 points, and the Jazz held Detroit to 33 percent shooting from the floor and 23 percent from three.

The Jazz won with defense, despite a poor shooting night of their own.

1/12: Jazz 117 – 87 Cavaliers

The @utahjazz steamrolled the @Cavs tonight.

◾ Cavaliers aren't very good, yet.
◾ Not playing down to Cleveland
◾ Jazz-Wizards canceled
◾ Miye Oni has a rap album#TakeNote https://t.co/kX38WOBrWX

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 13, 2021

How They Won: Hot Shooting, Short-Handed Cavs Roster

The Jazz had their most efficient three-point shooting night of the season against the Cavaliers, canning 24 of their 45 attempts for a staggering 53 percent from deep.

But the Jazz were handed the win when the Cavaliers entered the game without Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, and Andre Drummond.

Mitchell led the Jazz with 27 points on 9-15 shooting.

1/15: Jazz 116 – 92 Hawks

The @utahjazz beat the @ATLHawks 112-91. This is how they won this game.

◾ Mike Conley's brilliant third quarter.

◾ The Jazz contingency plan offense.

◾ Strong identity prevented a trap game.#TakeNote https://t.co/3kiUAYk8PR

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 5, 2021

How The Won: Stifling Defense, Hot Shooting

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young is one of the best scorers in the NBA but had one of the worst nights of his career against the Jazz.

The team held Young to just four points on 1-11 shooting while knocking down 20 threes to skate to a 24 point win.

Mitchell led the Jazz with 26 points, Ingles did not suit up. Both teams received an extra day of rest after COVID-19 tracing protocols postponed games against their previous opponents.

1/17: Jazz 109 – 105 Nuggets

The @UtahJazz beat the @nuggets for their league-leading seventh road win.

◾ Jazz win despite themselves
◾ Poor free-throw shooting
◾ A view from 30,000 feet#TakeNote https://t.co/RkaClkw3Cx

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 18, 2021

How The Jazz Won: Bench Play, Strong Defense

In the game the Jazz tried hardest to give away, Clarkson erased many of the team’s mistakes.

The Jazz gave up 23 offensive rebounds to Denver, Conley, Rudy Gobert, and Bojan Bogdanovic missed 12 free-throws, and Mitchell started the game shooting 1-10 from the floor.

But Clarkson’s 23 points on 9-13 shooting helped lead the Jazz second unit and rescued the Jazz who were otherwise mediocre.

The Nuggets bench was outscored 37-26 which led the Jazz in the close victory.

1/19: Jazz 118 – 102 Pelicans

The @utahjazz beat the @PelicansNBA 118-102.

Here's how it happened:

◾ Jazz Warriors-esque Runs
◾ The Zion Dilemma
◾ Quin Keeps Coaching #TakeNote https://t.co/PBWt1uUjgE

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2021

How They Won: Donovan Mitchell, Hot Shooting, Defense

Like the Bucks win to start the Jazz streak, this was a prototypical example of how the roster was designed to perform.

Mitchell had 28 points, the Jazz made 21 threes, and held the New Orleans Pelicans to six made threes on 26 attempts.

1/20: Jazz 129 – 118 Pelicans

The @utahjazz beat the @PelicansNBA 129-118.

Jazz have won seven in a row, Donovan Mitchell leads all scorers with 36 points.

Jazz hit 24-25 free-throws which changed the game in the second quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/dwyRPPsuKw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2021

How They Won: Donovan Mitchell, Big Comeback

The Jazz trailed by as much as 16 in the first half, leading to Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley’s now-infamous critique of Mitchell for not doing more to help his team.

Mitchell’s 36 point, seven rebound, five assist night helped the Jazz erase the Pelicans big lead before coasting to a relatively easy 11 point win.

The Jazz swept the two-game homestand against New Orleans by a combined 27 points.

1/23: Jazz 127 – 108 Warriors

Pretty high praise for the @utahjazz from @SteveKerr, who won three NBA titles in five years with the @warriors.#TakeNote https://t.co/UKcoLO0p8L

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 25, 2021

How They Won: Great Rebounding, Hot Shooting

The Golden State Warriors dynasty in the late 2010s was fueled by remarkable three-point shooting that ground their opponents into a fine dust.

The Jazz applied that same strategy to the Warriors through the first three quarters of the game, building at one point a 40 point lead before the team’s second unit was outscored by 17 in the final period.

The Jazz connected on 20-50 three-point attempts and outrebounded Golden State 57-35 en route to their eighth straight win. Mitchell led the Jazz with 23 points.

1/26: Jazz 108 – 94 Knicks

The @utahJazz beat the @nyknicks 108-94.

◾ Royce O'Neale's Career Night
◾ Jazz survive bad Mitchell Night
◾ Conley and Gobert's brilliance#TakeNote https://t.co/mFVJ4q4nlU

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 27, 2021

How They Won: Royce O’Neale, Great Defense

While Mitchell, Conley, and Clarkson have been the go-to scoring options for the Jazz during their streak, Royce O’Neale’s career-best night against the Knicks helped carry the team when they needed him most.

Mitchell scored just nine points on 3-15 shooting after suffering a blow to the head, but O’Neale filled in scoring a career-high 20 points on 7-12 shooting while adding six rebounds, and three assists in the win.

After a slow start, the Jazz knocked down 10-26 threes in the first half while holding the Knicks to just three second half three-pointers. Gobert added 18 points, 19 rebounds, and four blocks in the win.

1/27: Jazz 116 – 104 Mavericks

The shorthanded @utahjazz crushed the @dallasmavs 116-104.

These are the big stories from the night.

◾ Gobert's Loud Double-Double
◾ Ingles and Clarkson Shine
◾ Morgan over Azubuike

Read about them here. #TakeNote https://t.co/VYfHGyHZJ3

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 28, 2021

How They Won: Gobert, Clarkson Cover For Mitchell

With Mitchell out due to a concussion, the Jazz needed to step up as a team and found that production from Gobert and Clarkson.

The two combined for 60 points as the Jazz beat up the Dallas Mavericks pick and roll defense.

The Jazz led by 22 heading into the final quarter before scoring just 16 points in the fourth to make the game look closer than it was.

1/29: Jazz 120 – 101 Mavericks

The @utahjazz beat the @dallasmavs 120-101.

Jazz hit 20-48 threes, and hold Dallas to just nine makes from deep.

Instant reaction here. #TakeNote https://t.co/hP7kyhkn22

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 30, 2021

How They Won: Bogdanovic Shooting, Great Defense

After allowing Gobert and Conley to combine for 60 points, the Mavericks altered the game plan to slow the Jazz center and their Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

Bogdanovic picked up the slack scoring a season-high 32 points on 10-16 shooting while the Jazz head Dallas to just 101 points on 27 percent shooting from deep.

The Jazz were once again without Mitchell due to concussion-like symptoms.

1/31: Jazz 117 – 128 Nuggets

The @utahjazz broke their rhythm, and their win streak against the @nuggets. #TakeNote https://t.co/USFJ0V5bQf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2021

Why They Lost: Nikola Jokic, Historic Shooting

The Jazz lost their only game of the last 31 days thanks to an incredible shooting performance from the Nuggets in the first half.

Denver made 15 of their 17 first half threes, while Nikola Jokic scored 47 points to end the Jazz 11-game win streak.

2/2: Jazz 117 – 105 Pistons

The @utahjazz survived a late surge from the @DetroitPistons to win 117-105.

◾ Quin Snyder a glutton for punishment.

◾ Jazz must keep running.

◾ Jazz have oddly dominated the Pistons.#TakeNote https://t.co/EP8Jwe6FvF

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 3, 2021

How They Won: Donovan Mitchell, Good Defense

The Pistons again erased a big first half lead by the Jazz, trimming the team’s 28 point lead to single digits in the fourth quarter.

However, Donovan Mitchell’s 15 point third quarter gave the Jazz enough breathing room to beat the Pistons, despite a quiet nine point, seven rebound performance by Gobert.

Mitchell finished with 32 points on 10-17 shooting.

2/4: Jazz 112 – 91 Hawks

The @utahjazz beat the @ATLHawks 112-91. This is how they won this game.

◾ Mike Conley's brilliant third quarter.

◾ The Jazz contingency plan offense.

◾ Strong identity prevented a trap game.#TakeNote https://t.co/3kiUAYk8PR

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 5, 2021

How They Won: Isolation Scoring, Great Defense

The Jazz beat the Hawks despite shooting just 27 threes, by far their fewest of the season which made the team’s offense look nearly unrecognizable.

Atlanta sold out to limit the Jazz three-point attempts, so the Jazz countered with strong isolation performances from Bogdanovic and Clarkson who combined for 44 points.

The Hawks were without Trae Young and the Jazz held Atlanta to just 91 points on 32 percent shooting from the floor and 29 percent from three.

2/5: Jazz 138 – 121 Hornets

The @UtahJazz set a franchise record for three-pointers made in their win over the @Hornets, but may have lost guard Mike Conley.

What does it mean for the Jazz?#TakeNote https://t.co/nq3qG1e6Pj

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 6, 2021

How They Won: Bogdanovic, Mitchell, Hot Shooting

Despite losing Conley to a hamstring injury through most of the second half, the Jazz hit a franchise-record 26 threes to dart past the Hornets 138-121.

Bogdanovic continued his hot play scoring 31 points, including a stretch of 12 points in 90 seconds, while Mitchell added 30 points in the win.

Ingles added 11 assists as he closed for the Jazz in Conley’s absence on the second night of a back to back.

2/7: Jazz 103 – 95 Pacers

Can the best team in the NBA have a season changing win?

The @utahjazz might have done exactly that against the @Pacers thanks Donovan Mitchell's superhero effort. #TakeNote https://t.co/f9lHNusOhG

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 7, 2021

How They Won: Donovan Mitchell, Great Defense

In what could have been described as a scheduled loss, playing their third game in four days, with an early tip time, minus Conley, the Jazz won with their gutsiest performances of the season.

Mitchell had a near triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds as the Jazz held the Pacers to just 95 points on 39 percent shooting from the floor and 27 percent shooting from three.

How Have The Jazz Won Games? A Breakdown

So, with the summaries behind us, what does it say about how the Jazz have won these games?

Hot Shooting

First and foremost, the Jazz three-point shooting margins have been remarkable, having made more threes than their opponent in all 16 games, including the loss to Denver. Even on the Jazz worst shooting nights, they’re still finding ways to outshoot their opponents.

Over the last 16 games, the Jazz have made 292 three-pointers while allowing just 167 makes from their opponents, for an average of 7.8 more made threes per game.

The Jazz have only allowed three teams to have a better three-point shooting percentage during the streak.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what the Jazz three-point shooting has looked like over the last 16 games:

• 11 games shooting better than 40 percent from three
• 3 games shooting below the league average of 37 percent from three
• 8 games making 20 threes or more
• 5 games making 15 threes or fewer
• 12 games attempting at least 40 threes

Great Defense

The Jazz are the NBA’s third-best defense team with a defensive rating of 107. The league average for points per game is 111.7 while the league average for offensive rating is slightly less at 111.3.

During the streak, 12 of the Jazz 16 opponents have been held below the league average in points per game. 11 times the Jazz have held opponents below the league average in offensive rating.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how the Jazz have performed defensively during the streak:

• 12 games holding teams below league average 46 percent shooting
• 12 games holding teams below league average 37 percent from three
• 12 games holding teams below 110 points
• 6 games holding a team below 100 points
• 5 games holding teams to 40 percent shooting or worse
• 7 games holding teams below 30 percent three-point shooting
• 7 games holding teams to fewer than 10 made threes

Scoring Variety

In addition to their hot three-point shooting and terrific defense, the Jazz have seen big scoring outputs from several players on their roster during the 16 game streak, though Mitchell has been responsible for the majority of the scoring load.

Surprisingly, neither Gobert nor Conley have led the Jazz in scoring during any one game during the streak.

Here’s a quick breakdown on scoring during the stretch:

• 9 times Mitchell has led the Jazz in scoring
• 3 times Clarkson has led the Jazz in scoring
• 3 times Bogdanovic has led the Jazz in scoring
• 1 time O’Neale has lead the Jazz in scoring
• 7 30 point performances for Jazz Players
• 3 30 point performances from Mitchell
• 2 30 point performances from Bogdanovic
• 1 30 point performance from Clarkson
• 21 20 point performances from Jazz players
• 9 games the Jazz have had at least two 20 point scorers
• 3 games the Jazz have had three 20 point scorers
• 1 game with two 30 point scorers

Overall, it’s clear the Jazz have won games in a variety of ways, with a variety in performances from across the roster.

The Jazz are the league’s best three-point shooting team, which’s clear from their shooting margins against their opponent. But they’re also a dominant defensive team that can stifle opposing offenses, even when their own isn’t clicking.

While the Jazz lean heavily on the scoring from Mitchell, the supporting staff has proven an ability to step up and carry a large individual load allowing Mitchell to have the occasional off night.

Finally, the Jazz are 6-0 in games when a top eight rotation player is out of the game, including 4-0 without Ingles, 2-0 without Mitchell, and 1-0 without Conley, proving in addition to their versatility, they can win in the face of adversity.