SALT LAKE CITY — The Beehive State is only two wins away from securing its first basketball championship since the Utah Stars won the ABA in 1971 thanks to Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley.
OK, that makes the scenario sound bigger than it actually is.
Conley did win a basketball competition on Sunday evening, but he was just horsing around in a social-distancing-approved, made-for-sports-starved-TV event on ESPN.
In the first live sporting event (to use the term loosely) to be televised in a month since the coronavirus pandemic turned the lights off of arenas and stadiums around the globe, the Jazz point guard beat WNBA legend Tamika Catchings 5-1 — H-O-R-S-E to H- — in the first round of the NBA HORSE Challenge.
“I’m just happy to move on and happy to have completed against a GOAT like Tamika. I’m just thankful.” — Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley
Conley will take on former NBA guard Chauncey Billups in the semifinals Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Billups surprised Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young.
“I’m just happy to move on and happy to have completed against a GOAT like Tamika,” Conley said. “I’m just thankful.”
Conley played from his home gym in Columbus, Ohio, where he settled roots after playing for the Buckeyes in college. The indoor gym resembled a team’s practice facility, leading the commentator, ESPN’s Mark Jones via his home in Miami, to ask Conley if he’d been using the shooting machine gun to practice for the HORSE competition.
“I would love to say I was getting ready for this, but I was trying to stay in shape for when we come back,” Conley said, referring to the NBA schedule. “Once I found out I was playing against Tamika, I did turn it on the other day.”
Conley also turned it on in this round, mostly thanks to an ambidextrous advantage.
Mostly using his off-hand, the left-handed Conley came out strong to give the WNBA great an H by hitting a jumper from the right elbow with the weak hand (right for him, left for her).
Conley went ahead 4-0 — or H-O-R-S — with a 3-pointer from the right corner after a behind the back dribble and a quick turn, an offhanded free throw and a weak-handed, one-handed 3-point set shot from the corner.
Conley took an H after a miss from behind the hoop, but then clinched the win by nailing the trickiest shot of the day — a right-handed layup from behind and over the backboard.
Conley’s use of his off-hand was the clear factor.
“I use that to my advantage,” he said, smiling. “I know it.”
The other semifinal will feature Chicago Sky All-Star Allie Quigley and Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine. Quigley took down Chris Paul, while LaVine defeated Paul Pierce.
Though they haven’t been together since the NBA suspended its season while they were in Oklahoma City a month ago, Conley did say he’s been in contact with his Jazz teammates through occasional zoom meetings.