SALT LAKE CITY – In the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks, Collin Sexton came off the bench on fire. He scored 8 points on 4/4 shooting.

Sexton’s start was a bright spot in a tough start for Utah. The Jazz were down by double-digits for the majority of the opening quarter.

Young Bullin’ around 😈#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/2bo7ELbDjo

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 4, 2023

With two all-star level guards on the opposing team, the Jazz guards had a lot on their plate defensively. Sexton stepped up to the plate early.

Sexton’s hustle and energy lead to easy baskets. However, he showed that he can still hit the tough ones.

𓄀 hoof on the gas 𓄀#TakeNote | @collinsexton02 pic.twitter.com/kY2ZxXyfw6

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 4, 2023

Sexton’s 8 first-quarter points was good for second on the Jazz behind Lauri Markkanen, 9.

The Jazz opened their five-game homestand with wins over the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors as they battle to stay competitive in the crowded Western Conference Playoff race.

The Hawks meanwhile are on the front end of a back-to-back with the Jazz and Denver Nuggets over the weekend.

Jazz Look To Link Together Win Streak

Once again the Jazz will look for their elusive third straight win after having failed to do so in their last six attempts.

The Jazz last won three straight between November 6-9 when they opened the season with a surprising 10-3.

“I’m extremely happy to represent the Jazz here,” Lauri Markkanen said of earning the opportunity to play the All-Star game in Utah.

“I’m looking forward to it.”#takenote | @kslsports https://t.co/3F24zTXfIu

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 3, 2023

After Lauri Markkanen was named to the Western Conference All-Star game Wednesday, the Jazz have significant momentum as they head into the trade deadline and All-Star break.

The team is 7-3 in their last 10 games and is tied with the Phoenix Suns for the seventh-best record in the West.

Murray Shining For All-Star Devoid Hawks

The Hawks roll into Utah for their third game of a five-game road trip.

Atlanta opened their trip with a narrow loss to the Portland Trail Blazers but bounced back with a blowout 132-100 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Salt Lake City on a Friday night 🏔️

🆚 @utahjazz
⏰ 9 PM ET
📍 @vivintarena
📺 @HawksOnBally
🎙️ @929TheGame pic.twitter.com/aoo09gyE7q

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 3, 2023

While Trae Young was skipped over in Wednesday’s All-Star announcement, backcourt teammate Dejounte Murray has been playing at an All-Star level over the last 11 games.

Murray is averaging 25.0 points, 5.9 points, and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 45 percent from three.

Utah Jazz And Atlanta Hawks Broadcast

The Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks will tip off at 7 pm MT in Salt Lake City. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. It can also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.