3 takeaways from the Utah Jazz’s 102-98 win over the Chicago Bulls

Utah Jazz guard Emmanuel Mudiay, left, and Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. | Nam Y. Huh, AP

The Utah Jazz didn’t make it easy Thursday night at the United Center in Chicago, but led by the trio of Bojan Bogdanović, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, who combined to score 53 points, the Jazz eked out the win over the Bulls 102-98.

Here are three takeaways from the Jazz’s victory over the Bulls, Utah’s 22nd win this season.

• Jazz forward Bogdanović was the closer in the victory. Ten of Bogdanović’s team-high 19 points came in the game-deciding fourth quarter. During one particular stretch, Bogey scored six consecutive points, and six of his points scored in the fourth quarter came from the charity stripe. Of course, his most notable highlight did not come in the fourth quarter.

Bogey pic.twitter.com/1rsj4cHhfk

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 3, 2020

• Per usual, Gobert was a difference-maker. The center finished with yet another double-double, with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, to say nothing of his impact on the defensive end. With Gobert patrolling the paint, Chicago shot just 26 of 58 from inside the 3-point line, or 45%. Gobert was also a little clutch himself as he scored six fourth-quarter points. It was his dunk with a minute remaining, assisted by Joe Ingles, that gave the Jazz the separation they needed to pull out the win.

death ✅
taxes ✅
Rudy Gobert getting a double-double ✅#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wTD8DauGnz

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 3, 2020

• While usually the team’s weak spot, the Jazz’s bench was stout against the Bulls, led by Jordan Clarkson and Georges Niang. Clarkson led all reserves with 12 points, finishing 3 of 7 from behind the arc. Niang, meanwhile, had a team-best plus/minus rating of +19, while chipping in 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from 3-point range.

three triples for GEORG3S pic.twitter.com/rxwjQayJwL

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 3, 2020

Up next

Saturday, Jan. 4, at Orlando, 5 p.m. MST

Monday, Jan. 6, at New Orleans, 6 p.m. MST

Wednesday, Jan. 8, vs. New York, 7 p.m. MST

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/39CEien