Utah Jazz Back to Winning, Al Jefferson Leads Effort over Milwaukee Bucks

The Utah Jazz clawed back to a .500 record with their 85-73 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at EnergySolutions Arena. This is the first time of this young season that the Jazz were able to put together consecutive wins, and to do so on back-to-back nights has to make Tyrone Corbin and the Jazz faithful happy.

Al Jefferson lead the team with his double-double, scoring 26 points while going 10-17 from the field for 26 points, and he grabbed 10 rebounds. Paul Millsap added another 13 points and tied Milwaukee’s Drew Gooden for a game-high 12 rebounds. Millsap was also an efficient 6-7 from the field and added two blocks in the win.

Gordon Hayward also played well, pitching in 12 points while going 5-7 from the field, though he did have a team high four turnovers. Rookie Alec Burks was able to get to the line 10 times, something the Jazz need in order to get some easy points, and he added nine points to the winning effort.

Raja Bell was again a non-factor, scoring only three points with zero assists in nine minutes. His lack of production has to be a concern for a team that desperately needs win players to contribute in order for the Jazz to put together multiple, sustained winning streaks this year.

Seeing Utah creep back to 3-3 is a good feeling, and their schedule may allow them to add to their win total with the Rudy Gay led 2-3 Memphis Grizzlies coming to Utah Friday night.

The Jazz’s immediate schedule looks favorable, with matchups against the Cleveland Cavaliers (1/10), Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets (1/14), the Minnesota Timberwolves (1/21), and the Toronto Raptors all in Salt Lake City.

The remainder of January looks like a promising time for the team to get a couple wins above .500 before going out on some extended road trips. Ten of the next 13 games will be played in the friendly confines of the EnergySolutions Arena, though two of those will come against the Los Angeles Lakers (1/11) and the Northwest Division leading Portland Trailblazers (1/30).