EMPTYING THE NOGGIN

Summary:  Jazz do what they need to late in the game to beat the Wizards 128-124 on a night when they couldn’t get their defense to impact the game

• The Jazz and the Wizards played in DC a few weeks ago and the Wizards seemed disinterested, lacking any defensive system and togetherness. Tonight, they were the exact opposite they came with great energy, a specific plan and high level of energy.  In turn, the Jazz found themselves in a tussle till the final minutes

• The Jazz lead the game 39-30 at the end of the 1^st quarter and then 70-62 at the half. In the third quarter the Jazz ran off on a 13-2 run and it felt like that could be the night.  Instead, the Wizards answered with a 13-0 run of their own and it was 92-90 at the end of the 3^rd    The game stayed close all 4^th quarter and it took clutch plays for the Jazz to win it

• Defensively the Jazz never had an impact on the game. This is the same approach that caused the Jazz problems against the Atlanta Hawks.  The Wizards were able to play with both their bigs outside the three point line removing Rudy from the middle of the floor and the Jazz wing defenders were unable to stop the penetration to the basket.  Similar to the Hawks game when the Hawk took 40 three point shots the Wizards took 37 threes and took 33 shots at the rim.

• The Jazz usually have a considerable advantage is shot distribution and tonight they didn’t. This is a significant advantage for the Jazz being negated.

• The Jazz have not been very good offensively in end of tight games. Tonight they were a bit better.  The Jazz committed back to back turnovers and they trailed 116-114 and the Wizards had the ball with 2:32 left.  Jabari Parker tried to go one on one with Donovan Mitchell and committed an offensive foul.  Then the Jazz went back to their normal offense and Joe Ingles found Rudy Gobert for a tough hoop and the foul at the rim.   Beal missed a 4 foot and Ricky Rubio came back with a three pointer.  Portis missed a three that would have given Washington the lead and then Donovan Mitchell hit a floater to put the Jazz up 122-118.

• Donovan had 35 points tonight on 13 of 23 shooting and added 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

• The Jazz were without Derrick Favors and Raul Neto for most of the night. Favors had back spasms and Raul Neto was out with concussion like symptons.  This is the 4^th time in 4 years Neto has been out with concussion related issues.  That is a bit disconcerting.

• Bobby Portis caused the Jazz problems tonight with 6 three pointers in 12 attempts. He has 28 points and 13 rebounds as well as 4 assists.  He is a restricted free agent and it will be interesting to see how much he gets paid.  Washington traded Otto Porter to get him.

• The Jazz missed Raul Neto’s positive plus minus mintues

• The Jazz went 18 for 18 from the line and 13 of 13 in the 4^th

• The Jazz made a bunch of hustle play blocks that in what was a one possession game now seem big. Gobert blocked a fast break from behind, Mitchell got Parker on a cut to the basket and Crowder recovered to block Portis.

• Joe Ingles had another 10 assist game.

• Bradley Beal was terrific tonight. He played with a ton more vigor than he did in DC with 34 points on 13 of 25 shooting.

• Jazz need wins and they got one tonight.