Jazz Secure Winning Record At Home With Victory Over Rockets
Apr 11, 2024, 10:33 PM
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) gestures to a teammate (Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz snapped their season-worst 13-game losing streak, beating the Houston Rockets 124-121 to finish the 2023-24 home campaign with a victory.
Luka Samanic and Keyonte George combined for 42 points, matching Fred VanVleet’s total for the Rockets.
Related: Recapping Jazz Win Over Rockets
Jazz Finish Season With Winning Record At Home
With Thursday’s victory, the Jazz closed the season with a 21-20 record in Salt Lake City, marking the tenth straight year they’ve finished with an above .500 winning percentage at home.
It’s the 40th time in 45 seasons that the Jazz have won more games at home than they’ve lost, and the 43rd time in the franchise’s 50-year history dating back to their early years in New Orleans.
“We value this building,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “We love the opportunity to play here. We want this to be a place that visiting teams don’t want to come to.”
A JAZZ WIN dedicated to you, Jazz fans 🎶 🎷 💜
Let’s watch it again!#TakeNote | Presented by @LVT_USA pic.twitter.com/1t7VLGle5w
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 12, 2024
While wins seem unlikely over their final two games of the season, the Jazz aren’t at risk of finishing the season with one of the franchise’s worst road records.
With nine wins already under their belt, the Jazz have more victories away from home than six other rosters throughout the team’s history and can eclipse the road-win totals from the 1976-77, 1982-93, and 2013-14 seasons with just one victory over to close the year.
“Winning on the road is very hard in this league,” Hardy added. “But it is a source of pride that we ended the season with a winning record at home.”
What Did Jazz Players Say About Potential NHL Relocation?
With NHL relocation being the talk of the town, I wanted to get a feel for how those on the Jazz felt about hockey being played at Delta Center as soon as next season.
Though Lauri Markkanen has missed the last seven games with a shoulder injury, he discussed the prospect of an NHL team landing in Utah before Thursday’s game.
“I’d be excited, I love to go to the games any time I can, on the road,” the Jazz All-Star said.
Though basketball has been his sport of choice throughout his life, Markkanen has a history with hockey dating back to his childhood in Finland.
“I grew up playing, not on a team per se, but I went outside to play after school multiple times a week, so, big fan.”
🏀 🤝 🏒 pic.twitter.com/lZaaWm6Y45
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 11, 2024
Related: Answering The Biggest Questions About Moving NHL To Utah
When asked how he felt about sharing an arena with an NHL team as soon as next season, Hardy offered his thoughts.
“Hypothetically, I assume we won’t play on the same night,” the Jazz coach joked, “so, sounds fun.”
Jazz Standings Watch After Rockets Win
With Thursday’s win, the Jazz sit 2.0 games back of the Brooklyn Nets, and could still finish the season tied for the ninth-worst record in the NBA.
If the Jazz were to win out, and the Nets were to go winless, the two teams would finish the season with an equal 32-50 record.
But, with the Jazz playing against the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors to close the season, it’s unlikely they’ll finish the season tied with Brooklyn.
Related: What Happens If Jazz Win The Draft Lottery?
The win did eliminate the Jazz’s ability to pull into a tie with the Memphis Grizzlies for the league’s seventh-worst record, however.
Even in the unlikely scenario where the 27-53 Grizzlies won their final two games of the season, they couldn’t pull even with the 30-win Jazz.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will face the Clippers on Friday at 8:30 pm MST in Los Angeles. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
