SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz eviscerated the Toronto Raptors 145-113 pulling to .500 for the first time since October 27.
Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton combined for 63 points as the Jazz knocked down 21 threes in the victory.
With the win the Jazz leaped the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings and own the 10th seed outright in the Western Conference.
Jazz Best Last Year’s Record
With their win over the Raptors, the Jazz own a record of 20-20, outpacing last year’s roster for the first time this season.
The Jazz started the 2022-23 campaign with a surprising 10-3 record but won just nine of their next 27 games to fall to 19-21 through their first 40 contests.
The 2023-24 roster has done nearly the complete opposite, opening the year 4-11, before winning 16 of their last 25.
“We’re trending in a far different direction at this point than we were last year,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “I also just think that we have settled in a little bit as a group right now.”
The Jazz turnaround in earnest began on November 25 when without Markkanen in the lineup, the team swept the New Orleans Hornets in a two-game series in Salt Lake City.
After dropping five of their next six games, Markkanen returned to the lineup against the New York Knicks and the Jazz have since won 13 of their last 17 games to turn the once-lost season into a compelling Cinderella story.
Will Hardy’s Faith In Will Hardy
When the Jazz were sitting at 7-16 to open the year, and closer to the 15th seed in the West than the 10th, it was hard to see how the team could turn the season around.
Hardy admitted that he had moments where he was unsure vision for the team would translate on the court.
“I’m a human being and there’s definitely days of doubt and there’s moments where you’re driving home going like, ‘Is this actually going to work?’” Hardy said.
