27 Jan 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic Guard Cole Anthony (50) dribbles basketball when Miami Heat Guard Terry Rozier (2) defends during the fourth quarter of the Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: SAM NAVARRO-IMAGN images Not much has gone right for Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic since they last met each other almost a month ago.
Utah has dropped eight in a row and 11 out of 12 since he won Back-to-back games on Miami and Orlando January 4-5. Magic has not been much better and released nine out of 12 since that meeting.
The good news? A rough January is over, giving both teams the chance to open February on a stronger note when they meet on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Jazz’s two wins in early January contained Breakout performances for Brice Sensabaugh, who received 34 points against Miami and added 27 in a victory 105-92 at Orlando. But Sensabaugh’s minutes and influence have decreased since then when some of Utah’s most important contributors returned to the lineup. Sentabaugh scored only three points in 15 minutes in Thursday’s 138-113 home loss to Minnesota.
Keyonte George led the jazz with 23 points from the bench on Thursday. Collin Sixteen, who made 20 against the magic, added 19 points against Timberwolves while Jordan Clarkson and John Collins each had 16. Lauri Markkanen added 15 points.
However, even with the basic players back in Utah’s rotation, the jazz is struggling to put together a complete game. They are competitive for distances but then fall apart. It happened on Thursday when they were outscored 44-22 during the third quarter when Timberwolves transformed a four-point game at half-time into a blowout.
“We have had a variety of range,” said Utah coach Will Hardy. “It’s not as easy as just plug-and-play when guys come back from being injured and sick and not playing. There is some rhythm lost in these moments and guys who take different roles. Nobody feels sorry for us and We don’t think about ourselves.
Hardy is not too worried that Markkanen only made 5 out of 13 shots and fought through a 3-for-10 3-point performance. The Finnish forward has only made 9 out of 40 3s since he returned to the lineup in the last four games after a two -week absence.
“I think Lauris is one of these players when you’re out, your rhythm may be away a bit – your legs,” Hardy said. “Being rested is one thing, but there is also the feeling of being in really good shape. These guys are built and trained to play many games. I have empathy for the fact that he has moments where he feels a little clumsy, But overall I don’t see a terrible trend in the types of 3s he gets. ”
Neither Franz Wagner nor Paolo Banchero played in the latest jazz magic game due to oblique injuries. Wagner scored 24 points and Banchero had 21 in Orlando’s loss at 119-90 on Portland on Thursday.
Magin fought after a 35-point in the first quarter against Blazers, and only made 55 points the rest of the game. They have dropped the first two games in a six-match road trip.
“I think everyone in the team, and it starts from the top – from (Banchero), Franz, to the bottom,” said Orlando guard Cole Anthony. “As a unit, we just have to be safe and trust our work. I think many times, ourselves also included, things start to go wrong and we start trying to postpone Franz, postpone (Banchero), and obviously, Yes, they are fantastic players.
“They help us win many games and will continue to do so, but we have to make it easier for them. I think they carry so much of the weight, so much of the burden, that it is overwhelming to them sometimes.
-Field level media
