By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino-American shooting guard Jordan Clarkson scored 30 points and lifted the Utah Jazz against the Atlanta Hawks, 116-98, to rack up their third straight win of the young NBA season.
No Donovan Mitchell, no problem. Clarkson’s here.
Despite the absence of main gunner Mitchell, the Utah Jazz was still able to find their offensive rhythm courtesy of a waxing-hot Clarkson who just torched Atlanta with his efficient shooting from the field.
Clarkson went unconscious soon as he caught the basketball and went 10/19 from the field including 4/10 from the three-point line.
After finishing with just five points in the first half, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year took over and just displayed his full offensive arsenal against the rolling Atlanta team led by Trae Young.
Atlanta even led 60-53 with 6:02 left in the third quarter but Clarkson’s hot hands helped them establish a fiery 16-5 run to take over the lead and the momentum.
It was then all Utah in the fourth as Clarkson continued his dominant display of basketball as he hit tough bucket after tough bucket to help seal the deal for the Jazz.
The win helped Utah secure the no. 1 spot in the Western Conference with 7-1 behind Golden State with 6-1.
