Jazz at Hawks
The Utah Jazz are in the midst of a strong stretch as they look to post their sixth straight triumph when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Jazz began their four-game road trip by hammering New York 137-116 on Wednesday for their second straight 21-point victory.
Utah is averaging 120.2 points during the winning streak, and its smallest margin of victory is 16 in Saturday's triumph over Brooklyn. The Jazz are hoping to reach the top four in the Western Conference and gain home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs as they currently reside in fifth place. Atlanta has dropped three straight games and six of its last eight after suffering a 121-105 home loss to Houston on Tuesday. The next victory will allow the Hawks to surpass their total from 2017-18 as they experience a second straight poor campaign after making the playoffs each of the previous 10 seasons.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Utah), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (42-29): Utah made 20 3-pointers and dished out 38 assists (on 48 baskets) against just 10 turnovers versus New York to continue a stretch during which the ball movement has been superb. "We're playing better as a team, and I think it is helping us bring everybody together," Ricky Rubio told reporters after the win. "We do the right play every time. We are sharing the ball very well right now." Donovan Mitchell made five 3-pointers while scoring 30 points against the Knicks and has recorded at least 30 in five of his last 14 contests.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (24-48): Rookie Trae Young recorded 21 points and 12 assists against the Rockets for his third double-double in six games and 24th of the season. Young, who has scored 20 or more points in six of his last seven contests, is averaging 20.6 and has gone 37-for-43 from the free-throw line during that stretch. John Collins registered 20 points and 10 rebounds against Houston for his sixth double-double in seven games and 30th of the season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Jazz recorded a 128-112 home win over the Hawks on Feb. 1.
2. Rubio has made all 18 of his free-throw attempts over the last three games.
3. Atlanta rookie SG Kevin Huerter is averaging 5.7 points on 7-of-29 shooting over his last three contests.