Bogdanovic powers Jazz past shorthanded 76ers
Bojan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 27, including five 3-pointers, to power the Utah Jazz to a 120-85 rout of the depleted Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.
Jordan Clarkson had 20 points and Rudy Gobert contributed 15 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks.
The Jazz had lost four of five games and needed their traditionally tough defense to return. Against this version of the 76ers, it wasn’t clear how much of it had to do with Utah’s guarding prowess or Philadelphia’s ineptitude.
The 76ers shot 37% and only grabbed six offensive rebounds off all those misses. That allowed the Jazz to get into their sets early and produce easy looks.
Shake Milton scored 18 and Tyrese Maxey added 16 for the 76ers, who have lost five straight games for the first time since December 2017.
Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle remain in the league’s health and safety protocols and were not with the team. Embiid has missed five games now and Thybulle has sat six games, which has corresponded to a significant dip in defensive efficiency.
Utah went 11-for-19 from 3-point range in the second and third quarters combined to push the lead to as high as 31. The Jazz also outrebounded Philadelphia 56-42.
The Jazz went on a 14-0 run to start the second quarter. Clarkson’s peek-a-boo baseline jumper gave Utah a 44-28 lead with 8:10 left until halftime.
Later in the quarter, the Jazz expanded their advantage to as many as 23 points before the 76ers finally made a few shots to pull with 63-47 at the break.
Both teams have been reeling, going a combined 1-8 in the last 10 days so something had to give for one of them. Both teams pointed to their flagging defenses as the primary reason for their skids.
The 76ers were also without Danny Green (left hamstring) and Ben Simmons (personal reasons).
For the Jazz, off-season free agent Rudy Gay has begun joining practices and may play later this week.
Williamson not read for 5-on-5: New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson won’t begin participating in five-on-five drills until after Nov. 24 at the earliest, the club announced Tuesday. Williamson has been cleared to participate in fullspeed contact drills on a one-onone basis after doctors reviewed imaging of his fractured right foot late last week. The star forward is scheduled to have another round of scans done on Nov. 24, after which team physicians will decide whether to clear the 2019 top overall draft choice out of Duke for full team drills. The Pelicans, who visit Miami on Wednesday night, have opened 2-13.
Rookie Mobley to miss weeks: The Cavaliers’ surprisingly strong start has hit a snag. Rookie forward Evan Mobley will miss multiple weeks with a sprained right elbow, an injury that threatens to stall Cleveland’s early season momentum. The No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, Mobley got hurt in Monday night’s 98-92 loss to Boston. He was battling for position under the basket in the third quarter when his arm got tied up with Celtics big man Enes Kanter. Mobley will return in “approximately 2-4 weeks.” His loss is a major blow to the Cavs, who are 9-6 after winning just 22 games last season. The 20-year-old from USC is averaging 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
Ankle injury sidelines Doncic: Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has been ruled out of Wednesday’s game against Phoenix with a sprained left ankle and knee after getting injured late in a win over Denver. Doncic’s lower left leg got caught and bent awkwardly under Austin Rivers as the Nuggets guard fell on a layup attempt after colliding with Doncic in the final minute Monday night. Dallas won 111-101. The team said the 22-year-old wouldn’t be available for the first of two straight games at the Suns. The injury comes after the most impressive win for the Mavericks this season going into a tough part of the schedule, and with Doncic and European sidekick Kristaps Porzingis clicking.
Middleton back from COVID-19: Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is practicing with his teammates again and expects to play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing eight games due to a positive COVID-19 test. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Middleton will gradually work toward his usual amount of playing time. Middleton acknowledged he was worried when he first learned about his diagnosis. He was not asked Tuesday about his vaccination status.