The Utah Jazz have just returned from a nail-biting game against the Memphis Grizzlies. It came down to free throws to send it into overtime, and two more were made, earning the Jazz their first win of the Summer League. The Beehive state-based side faced off against the visitors, and the winds changed for the hosts.
Throughout the game, it was mostly a one-sided affair. The home team put up quite the fight; however, the away side was better. The second game of the Summer League was played on the floor of the Delta Center, and the Thunder came better prepared and equipped to grab a victory. This showed how many areas the Jazz need to continue to improve.
Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder takeaways
Eyes were on several first-round picks, such as Dillon Jones for Oklahoma and Cody William for the Jazz. They have no peace when expectations are high, and failure is not an option, so there is no pressure, right? After the tip-off, Oklahoma had the lead until almost the end of the first quarter, when the Jazz closed the gap.
After that, the Thunder ran away with it as the Jazz struggled to make things work. Partway into the second quarter, Oklahoma was up 39 to 26. At halftime, the score came to 38 to 40, with Thunder killing it. After halftime and until the end of the game, it was all Oklahoma. The final score was 98 to 75, as the Jazz never led in the game. There are many ways to look at this, as some may say that the Utah Jazz are not ready for what is to come.
Reasons for optimism
Perhaps they worked too hard in practices, or there isn’t going to be a winning season at all this year for them. One game does not make a team. The Oklahoma Thunder came and schooled the Utah Jazz, but the Jazz did everything right for what they had.
Oklahoma came, and they passed the ball so many times that the Jazz players probably rubbed their necks in the locker room, not from the loss but from how many times their heads were twisted around that they could have spit up pea soup at a priest. Utah did rotate their bench, but they kept changing and adapting their game plan and coverage. They were learning and changing designs, plays, and defensive patterns, and they never gave up. Learning from their loss proves that a team can dig a little deeper and change even more. A team that never learns is a team that can’t change, which means even more losses.
Key takeaways from the game
Fans can get behind this team no matter what, and Kenny Lofton came out shining. He scored from all over the Thunder’s side of the court. When it came to shooting, he made them from under the key, at the top of the arc, behind the line, and through it down from above the hoop. He came out with 18 points, four assists, four rebounds, three steals, and a block.
Other players who showed what they had were Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowki. Kyle navigated to the net like an MVP, and Isaiah had everything to do with the Jazz’s best ball movements. Knowing that they couldn’t take away the win, the Jazz rotated the bench. Armondo Bacot got some solid playtime and rebounded the ball so many times that the Thunder didn’t know what hit them.
Taking a loss in any game is hard, but losing without taking the opportunity to make the most of it is even worse. The Jazz ended with a defeat but did everything right to learn from it, so they truly weren’t defeated. The Jazz play the 76ers next, and if they can find a balance within themselves and as a team, they can learn to get all the help they can despite the loss.
For More Great Content
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and much more! Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
