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SALT LAKE CITY - On a night where the Jazz struggled to keep possession and create shots, one man was able to lead the team and put up points. That man - Al Jefferson.
This was Jefferson's second straight night leading the Jazz in points and to a win. In the last game he had 22 points in the Jazz's win against the Hornets. In the Jazz's 85-73 win over the Bucks, he led the team with 26 points and went to the line nine times and converted six of those.
"Al's a tough guy to defend in the post," Coach Tyrone Corbin said.
He may have had help form the Bucks losing former Ute big man Andrew Bogut. Jefferson was thankful when he heard Bogut wasn't playing.
"I've been doing it all my life," Jefferson said of his offensive performance. "That's why I never really panic... My teammates trust me and get the ball in to me."
Jefferson was part of a front line that provided a lift when the back court was struggling to find a shot. The big men down low provided blocked shots and rebounds.
Jefferson got a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with his points. Paul Millsap also had a double-double in points and rebounds. He lead the team with 12 rebounds and was second behind Jefferson in points with 13 on 6-7 shooting.
Coming off the bench the two other big men added another spark and much needed defense to keep the Bucks score low. Derrick Favors had a career-high five blocks in 21 minutes of play.
"I take pride in defense," Favors said. "Offense is cool, but I take pride on keeping my man from scoring."
He added seven rebounds to make up for a relatively slow offensive night, ending with six points.
"I think Derrick Favors set the tone in the first half with those blocked shots," Jefferson said of the second-year player, and added jokingly. "I think he got five in like three minutes."
Enes Kanter added five rebounds and five points in 12 minutes.
"They were great on the inside forcing outside shots," Corbin said of the bigs, noting Favors and Kanter in particular.
The Jazz out-rebounded the Bucks 50-48. That softened the blow of 24 turnovers. The front line's defense has stepped up and now leads the league in blocked shots.
"It all started defensively," said Gordon Hayward who added 12 points on 5-7 shooting.
I've been doing it all my life. That's why I never really panic... My teammates trust me and get the ball in to me.
–Al Jefferson
The play of the four bigs made up for the loss of Devin Harris and Josh Howard who were two of the stars in the Hornets game. Both left the game with leg injuries, calf and quad strains respectively. They are both day-to-day.
"When it starts getting bad on the offensive end we still really play hard on the defensive end," Jefferson said.
The starting backcourt of Harris and Raja Bell accounted for three points on 1-6 shooting.
Despite the lack of production Corbin was upbeat about the win saying, "it was a great team win."
