SALT LAKE CITY – The Sixers and Utah Jazz may be in similar situations for the long-term. However, it’s the Jazz that are certainly in a better spot at the moment.
The Sixers finally competed at a higher level but still weren’t able to hold off a 105-100 loss to the Jazz in their final game before the all-star breakThe . The defeat was a season-worst eighth in a row for the Sixers, while the Jazz won a season-high third straight.
The Sixers have lost nine consecutive games in Utah.
Turning point
With 2:10 to play, Michael Carter Williams completed a three-point play to tie the game at 91.
That’s when Utah reserve guard Alec Burks went on a personal 9-0 run over the next minute and a half to give the Jazz a cushion.
They would need it, too, because James Anderson hit a trio of three-pointers in the final 18 seconds to make things interesting.
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Follow the leader
Burks came off Utah’s bench to lead all scorers with 26 points. He came into the game averaging 13.2 points per game.
Gordon Hayward scored 17 points for the Jazz. He was 11 for 12 from the foul line.
Evan Turner shook off his recent struggles to lead the Sixers Turner scored 21 points. It was the first time he topped 20 points in the last nine games.
Michael Carter-Williams wanted to go into the all-star break on a high note and he did. The rookie scored 19 points, handed out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds. He also had two steals and had three blocks to go with three turnovers.
Stat-egic
The Jazz had 11 offensive rebounds leading to 14 second-chance points.
The Sixers grabbed seven boards at the offensive end but had just four points to show for them.
Take a bow
Hayward ran the length of the floor at the end of the third quarter in time to go up and block Arnett Moultrie’s would-be breakaway dunk.
It was Hayward’s second block of the night and 30th of the season.
What’s next?
The Sixers are off for the all-star break and don’t return to action until they face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 18 at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Cavs went into the break on a four-game winning streak and their record standing at 20-33 overall.