The Utah Jazz are without Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr. or Jusuf Nurkic. They were also without Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier on Monday night.
This should have been a reason the Jazz were scheduled to lose. But Golden State also brings a simple lineup to Delta Center — no Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, Kristaps Porzis, Al Horford or Moses Moody.
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The Jazz got the best out of a misfit ragtag group on Monday night, with eight players scoring in double figures, led by Brice Sensabaugh’s 21 points and three of their two-way players coming off the bench to beat the Warriors 119-116.
There will be plenty of time (tomorrow) to discuss how a Jazz win might not be the best thing to do. But tonight, some of the Jazz’s most unknown players deserve praise.
Most Jazz fans are familiar with Oscar Tshiebwe and Elijah Harkless, who have been with the team for two seasons and are now on two-way contracts. Even so, as is the case with two-way players, their opportunities are limited. But they had plenty of opportunities against the Warriors, with Blake Hinson, in just his eighth NBA game, the trio scoring 38 points off the bench.
“They’re all part of our program for a reason,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “It’s not just what they do as basketball players; WHO They are both competitors and people. We’re trying to really hone in on the guys we want in our program, and these three guys all represent that, and they all do it in their own way, but they’re all team-first guys. “
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Harkless scored a career-high 16 points and dished out a career-high six assists, but what stood out most was his trademark relentless defense and cool head at the free throw line. Tshiebwe finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, but it was how he grabbed rebounds and passed the ball to his teammates to keep the ball that made him a valuable part of the Jazz victory.
Hinson’s calling card is his sharp shooting, which will be crucial against the Jazz on Monday. He made 4 of 9 three-pointers and scored 12 points, including a clutch shot that gave the Jazz a three-point lead with less than 30 seconds left and forced the Warriors to shoot free throws in the final seconds.
“They both recognize how they contribute to winning,” Hardy said of the two-way players. “They do — I don’t mean to underestimate them — but, they stay true to their lane and do what they do well.”
It’s easy for players on two-way deals to do too much when given extended playing time. It’s understandable that they see these times as an opportunity to showcase various aspects of the game to the rest of the league and try to make a splash. But there is something to be said and admired for those players who cut their teeth in the G-League and are still playing team basketball.
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“Everybody wants to see the other team win, especially those guys,” Hinson said of his two-way teammates. “There’s only three of us, so we’re like a small group and it’s fun to see these guys succeed.”
Since we’re giving credit to people who don’t often get credit, recently added jazz musician John Konchar should also be great in his role on Monday. Konchar only scored two points against the Golden State Warriors, but he added 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals while being one of the most annoying defenders of the night, relentlessly tracking the ball throughout his 33 minutes on the court.
The Jazz improve to 20-45 on the season and will face Jordan Clarkson and the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
