Detailed Player Stats for the Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Match: In the NBA, every possession and effort is important.
The numbers alone didn’t tell the whole story when the Utah Jazz played the Lakers not long ago.
This detailed analysis goes into great detail about the player statistics that determined the winner. It looks at more than just who scored the most points; it also looks at the important efficiency metrics, defence contributions, and momentum-shifting plays that made the difference.
Storyline at the beginning: “More Than Just Another Game”
The Lakers played the Utah Jazz in a game that looked like it would be more than just another regular-season game. Before the game, stories were mostly about how LeBron James might hit another important milestone in his career and how competitive the Jazz were despite being in the middle of rebuilding.
- What happened was a story of two very different styles: the star-studded Lakers relied heavily on their experienced veterans, while the younger Jazz team showed off their depth and new ability.
- The total score, 117–103 Lakers, doesn’t show how complicated the game really was. Fans were on the edge of their seats until the fourth quarter, when the game finally ended.
- Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said, “This game was about making changes and trusting the process.” “The stats show that we got into a rhythm in the end, but Utah made us work hard for every ball.”
- The shooting difference between the teams finally decided the game. The Lakers made 48.3% of their field goal attempts, while Utah only made 41.7%, even though Utah attempted 96 shots more than the Lakers.
Star Power: LeBron and Markkanen Go Head-to-Head
The main individual game was between LeBron James, who never gets old, and Lauri Markkanen, who is becoming a big star in Utah. Although both players put in great efforts, their effects changed as the game went on.
- The third quarter was when LeBron really showed how dominant he was. He scored 14 points and had 5 assists, which helped the Lakers go on a 12–2 run that gave them their first double-digit lead. He showed how smart he was at basketball by taking advantage of mismatches against smaller Jazz players over and over again.
- Markkanen made the most of his contribution in the first half, when he scored 17 of his 25 points and kept the Jazz in the game with timely three-pointers and strong rebounds. But the Lakers’ changes to their defence made him less useful late in the game.
- The scoring split by quarter shows that James was consistently effective throughout, while Markkanen’s output dropped significantly in the second half:
How LeBron Scored in Each Quarter:
- Q1: 6 points (3–5 FG)
- Q2: 5 points (2-3 FG)
- Q3: 14 points (5-6 FG)
- Q4: 3 points (0-3 FG)
Markkanen’s Scores for Each Quarter:
- Q1: 10 points (4-7 FG)
- Q2: 7 points (3–5 FG)
- Q3: 4 points (1-4 FG)
- Q4: 4 points (1-3 FG)
When the game was down to the last five minutes and the score was tied or within five points, LeBron made three passes without shooting a field goal, showing how good he is at making plays when the defence falls apart around him.
Frontcourt of the Lakers vs. Interior Defence of the Jazz
Anthony Davis and Utah’s Walker Kessler fought in the paint, and that matchup had a big impact on the end of the game. In the end, Davis’s versatility beat Kessler’s more traditional job as a rim protector.
- At the end, Davis had a great stat line: 23 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 9-16 shooting from the floor. Even more impressive is that he got these numbers while sitting for most of the fourth quarter with the game already won.
- With three blocks, Walker Kessler showed signs of being a good shot blocker, but he got into a lot of foul trouble and could only play 21 minutes.
- This meant Utah had to lean more on their backup Kelly Olynyk, which opened up a defensive hole that the Lakers used to their advantage with Davis and James.
The field goal rate at the basket made the story clear:
- 68.4% (26/38) for the Lakers
- 52.1% (25/48) of people who liked jazz did so.
Davis’s presence on defence changed many shots in addition to the four blocks he made. Utah shooters only made 8 of 19 shots when Davis was the main defender, which shows how good he was at his job.
Guard Play: Moving the ball and scoring are very important
There were big differences in style and skill in the backcourt fight, with Utah’s Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson going up against the Lakers’ veteran D’Angelo Russell.
- Russell was the offensive mastermind for the Lakers. He scored 18 points, dished out 9 assists, and turned the ball over only twice, for an amazing 4.5 assists-to-turnover ratio.
- The Lakers’ guards were much better at pick-and-roll, scoring 31 points from it compared to Utah’s 22. Austin Reaves was the perfect partner for Russell. He added 14 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals while playing disruptive defence on the wings.
- Utah’s backcourt scored about the same amount of points, but they had trouble keeping the ball and playing defence. Clarkson had the most points (19) of any Jazz guard, but he also had the most mistakes (4), and his plus/minus rating was -12.
Another clear difference was how well the guards made three-point shots:
- Guards for the Lakers: 6/14 (42.9%)
- Jazz guards: 4 of 13 (30.8%)
Our guards set the tone on defence,” Anthony Davis, a veteran Lakers player, said. “We’re hard to beat when D’Lo and Austin run after the ball like that and make smart offensive choices.”
Impact on the Bench: Difference in Depth
While the starts laid the groundwork, the players who came off the bench had a big impact on how the game went.
- The Lakers’ bench scored 34 points more than Utah’s, with Lonnie Walker IV (10 points) and Rui Hachimura (12 points, 5 rebounds) being two of the most important scoring sparks.
- The Lakers’ bench played great during a key stretch in the second quarter while James rested, helping them keep the lead even when Utah’s stars came back.
- The Lakers’ coaching staff’s plan to spread out the minutes paid off because their stars were still fresh for the crucial fourth-quarter push.
- Utah’s bench had some good moments, like Talen Horton-Tucker’s 11 points against his old team, but their overall -31 plus/minus showed how bad their defence was.
- The Jazz backups let the Lakers go on a 14–4 run to start the fourth quarter, which pretty much ended the game.
- Walker said after the game, “Our second unit takes pride in extending leads.” “We know that our job is to bring energy and score goals while our starters get good rest.”
Sequences that change the game
Aside from individual performances, there were a few key sequences that changed the game’s momentum dramatically and eventually decided the winner:
- The Lakers’ Third-Quarter Surge: With a five-point lead at halftime (54-51), the Lakers started the third quarter with a 16-6 run, with LeBron making plays and Davis scoring inside.
- Having power. During this time, they shot very well (7 of 9 FG) and had a tough defence that forced 4 Jazz turnovers in less than 5 minutes.
- The Jazz tried to come back, but failed. Utah made a short threat at 9:27 in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 8 points. But in the next three minutes, the Lakers made four of five field goals and the Jazz missed six in a row, giving the Lakers a 19-point lead.
Russell’s Game-Changing Threes: As the Jazz were feeling more confident in the late third quarter, D’Angelo Russell made back-to-back three-pointers in 40 seconds, giving the Jazz a 10-point lead again and clearly weakening Utah’s defence.
The way these important runs are broken down statistically shows how important they were:
Lakers’ 16–6 run in the third quarter:
- FG: 7–9 (77.8%)
- 3FG: 2–3 (66.7%)
- AST: 5 (LeBron: 3)
- REB: A 6-2 lead.
- TO: 0 (forced 4)
Momentum-Shift by Russell (40 seconds):
- (8 points) from three-point range and a cutting layup.
- Jazz answer: 0-3 FG, 1 turnover
- It changed direction by +10 before and +16 after.
These sequences show how short bursts of offence and defence can change the result of a game in ways that aren’t always clear from the stats.
A Look at Advanced Metrics
Looking beyond standard statistics can help you understand how each player really affects the team. The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and the True Shooting Percentage (TS%) show how well a player is doing in ways that box scores might not:
- Use % Player PERTS % Net Rating
- LeBron James: +18.3, or 28.4%, or 31.2
- Tony Davis: 28.7 61.2% +14.9 24.1%
- 21.4% of D’Angelo Russell’s votes came from men.
- Lauri Markkanen 23.8 -55.2% -6.8 -26.7%
- Jordan Clarkson 16.3 5.2.1% -12.4 25.0%
The Lakers’ best group was their closing unit, which included James, Davis, Russell, Reaves, and Hachimura. In 12 minutes together, they had an impressive +21.4 net rating.
Utah’s best five-man unit (Sexton, Clarkson, Markkanen, Olynyk, and Kessler) had a +3.8 net rating, but they only played 8 minutes together because Kessler kept getting called for fouls, which made it hard for Utah to keep their defensive identity.
The advanced tracking data sheds even more light on the game’s basic patterns:
When LeBron and Davis did a pick-and-roll, the Lakers scored 1.19 points per attempt.
Overall, Utah’s defence gave up 1.08 points per play, which is a lot more than their season average of 0.97.
Utah scored 0.88 points per possession in the half-court offence, while the Lakers scored 1.04 points per possession.
These stats show that the Lakers’ better offensive play in half-court situations was the deciding factor, even though both teams had similar chances to fast-break and transition.
How to Coach: The Numbers That Drive Choices
Several statistical trends showed up during the chess match between teachers Darvin Ham and Will Hardy that changed the outcome:
How Well Timeouts Work:
After timeouts, the Lakers beat the Jazz 22–14.
Jazz: After timeouts, they only scored 0.78 points per play.Patterns of Substitution: The Lakers’ rotation kept their stars’ legs fresh:
LeBron James played 34 minutes (7th most in the season).
Anthony Davis: 32 minutes (season average: 35.8)
At the same time, Utah’s weak frontcourt meant they had to play more minutes:
Lauri Markkanen: 38 minutes (season average: 33.4)
Kelly Olynyk: 20 minutes (season average: 14.2)
Changes to defensive assignments: The Lakers’ decision to have Davis guard Markkanen in the second half was a key move that won them the game.
7-10 FG, 17 points for Markkanen vs. Davis in the first half.
2-9 FG, 8 points for Markkanen vs. Davis in the second half.
Hardy was more static, while Ham was willing to switch defensive duties. This created mismatches that could be used against Hardy as the game went on.
The Lakers’ better defensive rating in the second half (102.4) than in the first half (112.7) showed how flexible their strategy was.
“At halftime, we made the right changes,” Ham said. “The numbers show that our defence got a lot better, and that’s where we won the game.”
FAQs
What surprising Utah Jazz vs. Lakers player stats showed how important LeBron is for more than just scoring?
Everyone looks at points, but LeBron’s +18 plus/minus told the real story. When he was on the court, the Lakers shot almost 7% better, which was a huge difference in effectiveness. His 12 assists helped his friends score 28 points, showing that he is valuable in more ways than just scoring 28 points himself. The most important thing was that whenever he played, Utah’s defence dropped by 14 points.
How did the Utah Jazz vs. Lakers game’s bench player stats show the surprising difference in strength between the teams?
The raw numbers (34 points for the Lakers and 28 points for the Jazz) don’t show the whole story. The Lakers’ bench hit a scorching 51.9%, but Utah’s bench could only manage 37.9%. The real wake-up call? The bench for the Lakers had a plus/minus of +13, while the bench for Utah had a terrible -31. During a crucial stretch in the second quarter, Rui Hachimura’s quiet 12-point, 5-rebound performance totally changed the flow of the game.
Which player’s stats dropped the most after the defence was changed in the Utah Jazz vs. Lakers game?
Lauri Markkanen’s “tale of two halves” stands out. He looked unbeatable as he slammed the Lakers for 17 points in the first half on 70% shooting. Then the change: after halftime, Anthony Davis turned to going after him. As a result? Only 2 out of 9 shots made (22%) and only 8 points in the second half. This one defensive move could have been the most important moment in the game.
What hidden player numbers from the Utah Jazz vs. Lakers game explain why Utah lost even though they had more shots?
The answer to this puzzle is easy to find when you look into efficiency measures. The Lakers only made 89 shots, while Utah made 96 and scored 14 less points. Why? Utah had a lower true shot percentage (49.3%), while the Lakers had a much higher one (58.7%). The three-point difference is clear: the Lakers made 41.9% of their three-point shots, while Utah only made 28.1%. Those extra seven shots by the Jazz hurt them because they were rushing the ball instead of getting good looks.
Which player who wasn’t supposed to do well had the best statistical game in the Utah Jazz vs. Lakers match?
Austin Reaves quietly put together what might be the best stat line in the game. People didn’t notice his 14 points on just 8 shots, 6 assists against 1 mistake, and team-high +19 plus/minus in just 29 minutes because of all the other great play. His true shooting rate of 75% was the best of all players who took more than 5 shots, and opponents only made 3 out of 11 shots when he was the main defender.
How did the Utah Jazz vs. Lakers game’s fast-break stats go against a team’s season-long trend?
The strange data event that no one is talking about? The Lakers (ranked 22nd in fast-break points) controlled the transition game, beating the Jazz (ranked 8th) by an amazing 23–14 score. This nine-point lead in an area where Utah usually does well was crucial. Who did it? The unusually high number of mistakes (18) by Utah led to 11 fast-break chances for the Lakers, which turned season averages into strange one-game outliers.
What match-up-time Utah Jazz vs. Lakers player stats showed how much knowledge the two teams lacked?
In the last five minutes, the scores get really bad. With the score still close, the Lakers made five of seven shots (71.4%) in crucial situations, while causing Utah to make two of nine shots (22.2%) and turn the ball over three times. Between them, LeBron and Davis made all four of their shots during this time, while no Jazz player made more than one. This big difference in statistics showed how different a championship-caliber team is from a young team that is still getting better.
What the Numbers Tell Us in the End
The detailed match player numbers show more than just the final score. They also show a few important facts that really determined the outcome:
- LeBron’s Efficiency Over Volume: LeBron didn’t have his best scoring game, but his 58.8% field goal percentage and 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio showed that quality was more important than quantity. His +18 plus/minus score showed how much he affected the game.
- The Davis Defensive Difference: Anthony Davis changed the way the Jazz played offence. Utah shot just 41.7% when he was on the court, but 48.3% when he was off. His 15 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive, gave the team important extra points.
- Backcourt Ball Security: Russell, Reaves, and Schröder, the three guards for the Lakers, turned the ball over just four times in 81 minutes. Utah, on the other hand, had eleven backcourt mistakes that directly led to 16 Lakers points.
- Bench Scoring Efficiency: The bench scored about the same number of points (34-28 for the Lakers), but they did so much less efficiently:
- Bench for the Lakers: 14-27 FG (51.9%)
The Jazz bench made 11 of 29 free throws, which is 37.9%.
Three-Point Shooting Difference: The Lakers made 13 of 31 three-pointers (41.9%), while Utah made only 9 of 32 (28.1%). This was a difference of 12 points that was almost the same as the final score.
- At key points in time, statistical turning points became clear:
- When Davis turned to Markkanen at 9:42 in the third quarter
- At 2:15 in the third, Russell hit back-to-back threes.
- At 8:35 in the fourth, Walker IV started a 10–2 run that made the score 19–17.
- The success metrics show both good signs and places where things could be better:
- The Lakers only gave up 103 points, which is less than their season average of 109.7, because they were better at communicating with their defence.
Even though they lost, Utah’s 28 assists on 40 made field goals (70%) showed that they were still committed to moving the ball.
The Lakers’ 14 offensive rebounds gave them a physical edge that they’ll need to keep up against the best teams in the Western Conference.
In the end, this game showed that statistical benefits in efficiency, not just raw counting stats, often decide NBA games.
Even though the Jazz tried more shots (96 vs. 89), the Lakers won because they shot better, made more free throws (15-19 vs. 14-20), and made more three-pointers.
Lakers fans are still hopeful that their team will make it deep into the playoffs thanks to the play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Jazz are rebuilding their team, and Markkanen’s growth and their general competitive spirit against a much more experienced opponent give them real hope for the future.
