What to watch for: Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks
Donovan Mitchell (45) leading the Utah Jazz offense against Brandon Goodwin (0) and the Atlanta Hawks
After holding off a late comeback attempt, the Utah Jazz got back on the winning track as they topped the Detroit Pistons 117-105. Utah will now head out on a three-game road trip beginning tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. The game will tip off at 5:30pm at State Farm Arena.
Jazz vs Hawks Throwback:
The Jazz hold a slight edge to the Hawks in the all-time series 54-51 as they prepare for battle for the 106th time.
During the Jazz’ 11-game winning streak earlier this season, they beat the Hawks handily 116-92 on the Vivint Smart Home Arena floor. During that game, Donovan Mitchell led the squad with 26-points while Mike Conley chipped in eight assists. Rudy Gobert also kept up his defensive dominance with four blocks.
Key Matchup:
Rudy Gobert (27) swats Clint Capela (15) during a Jazz, Hawks matchup in January
Tonight’s game against the Hawks features two of the best international players in the NBA. Rudy Gobert (France) and Clint Capela (Switzerland) have gone back and forth each year since Capela was taken by the Houston Rockets in the 2014 draft.
These two big men have faced-off against each other 23-times during their careers. Capela holds a 14-9 edge against Gobert all time, but Gobert has the regular season nod with a 7-6 record against his counterpart.
Both Gobert and Capela are within the top three in the NBA for rebounds per game. Rudy is currently averaging 13.4 while Capela is just ahead of him with an average of 14.3. They also lead their teams in blocks per game with Gobert swatting an average of 2.7 and Capela registering 2.4 blocks per outing.
Defensively, these players are dominant. Offensively, their talents speak for themselves. Gobert has a 60.3% field goal percentage while Capela checks in at 56%. Both players lead their teams in this offensive category.
Fun Facts:
Mike Conley (10) takes on Brandon Goodwin (0) at half court
The home-white jerseys will make their ninth appearance this season with the Jazz going 6-2 while wearing the classic uniform. Their two losses came early in the season against the Nets and Knicks, while their most recent victories in the white jerseys came against the Pelicans, Warriors, and Mavericks.
Utah’s 16-5 record continues to hold strong as the top record in the NBA. The Jazz hold a half-game lead over the Clippers in the west, and the 76ers in the east as they continue their reign as the NBA leaders.
Atlanta is 10-11 and currently sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference Standings. They will face the red-hot Jazz after suffering back-to-back losses against the Lakers and Mavericks. The Jazz on the other hand, are 12-1 in their last 13 games.
Quin Snyder was named January’s Western Conference Coach of the Month. During January, the Jazz went 8-0 at home while posting a 13-3 record overall.
Jordan Clarkson (00) shoots a three-pointer over Cam Reddish (22)
How to Consume:
The game between the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks can be seen locally on AT&T Sportsnet and nationally on NBA League Pass. Jazz listeners can also tune into David Locke and Ron Boone’s radio broadcast on 1280 The Zone or 97.5 FM.
