Projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA by oddsmakers — Utah’s preseason win total was set at 23.5 — the Jazz have surprised just about everyone this season.
Despite trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the offseason, plus trading Mike Conley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Malik Beasley at the February trade deadline, the Jazz — led by Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler — blew past that projected win total.
The Jazz will not make the playoffs or the playoff tournament, though, and will be lottery-bound after Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City ensured they can finish no higher than 11th in the Western Conference standings.
Teams 1-6 in the conference standings make the playoffs, and teams 7-10 in the conference standings play in the play-in tournament to earn the final two spots in each conference for the NBA playoffs.