Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder has seen some of Georges Niang's shooting nights — 1-for-7 from three, 1-for-5, 0-for-4 — and not thought much of them. That's because there are other things he has done: attacked the defensive glass, stayed in front of his man, ran in transition.
"I'd like to think our guys can play well even if they're not making shots," Snyder said.
But it's a lot easier to see when those shots are going in. Niang was a perfect 7-for-7 from 3-point range in Monday's 132-110 win over the Hornets. Four of those shots came during the game-defining run between the third and fourth quarter that won Utah the game.
It was a breakthrough game for Niang, who had been averaging just 32% from three this season after hitting at 40% the last two years.
"It's human nature to get frustrated if you're not seeing the ball go in the basket particularly someone like George with as good of a shooter as he is," Snyder said. "So I just liked the fact that he didn't hesitate, and he kept shooting. That's how you breakthrough — you keep shooting."
And it's something his teammates were happy to see — even giving him the customary water battle shower following the game.
"For him to have a night like this is huge, not just for himself but for us," Donovan Mitchell said. "No hesitation, shooting the ball, letting it fly. … We're happy for him. This night was well earned for him."
So in honor of Niang's seven threes, here are seven numbers following Niang's (and Utah's) 3-point frenzy.
7: Niang's seven 3-pointers are the second most ever from a bench player without a miss in league history. It's also the second-most ever by a Jazz player without missing. Jeff Hornacek made all eight of his 3-point attempt in a game against Seattle in 1994.
20: The Jazz had three bench players score 20 or more points on Monday. Niang had 21 after his perfect 3-point display, Joe Ingles had 21 while shooting 7-of-10 from deep, and Jordan Clarkson had 20 points behind five triples. It's just the third time since 1985-86 a team had three players come off the bench to score 20 or more points.
19: Most of those bench points came from behind the arc. Niang, Clarkson and Ingles combined to go 19-of-27 from three. The 19 made threes is an NBA bench record, according to Jazz producer Jeremy Brunner.
"I think that's an incredible accomplishment — 19 threes is a lot of points," Niang said. "I wasn't a math major but that's a lot of points."
28: With the bench setting an NBA record, it is no surprise that Jazz set another team 3-point record on Monday as well by going 28-of-55 from deep. It is the third time this season they have set a new record — and it's now happened twice against the Hornets. Utah made a then-record 26 threes earlier this month in Charlotte. The 28 made threes is the second most ever made in a game, one short of the record.
500: The Jazz made their 500th three of the season on Monday, becoming the fastest team in NBA history to record 500 threes in a season (31 games).
15: The Jazz are 18-1 when they make at least 15 3-pointers.
25: Those 18 wins have helped the Jazz to some history. Utah picked up its 25th win on Monday — the first time in franchise history the Jazz have reached 25 wins before any other NBA team.
