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Cleveland • The Jazz are preaching consistency following Tuesday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Against one of the best teams in the NBA, the Jazz played with energy, showed resilience, and played well.
But they came out with a defeat, knowing the effort they put forth would be good enough to beat most teams. So now they have to mentally regroup and do it again against the Heat on Thursday.
And they know that won't be easy.
"We have to understand that it's one game of the road trip and that we have three games left," Utah forward Gordon Hayward said. "We know that Miami's a good team, a team full of veterans who know how to win games. So we're going to have to play with just as much effort as we did against Cleveland."
In part, this is what led to Utah's struggles last season. The Jazz were great one night, average the next, and that produced losses. Utah realizes consistency is the only way to make them a playoff team.
"We feel like we just have to learn from our mistakes, the little breakdowns on the defensive end that cost us some open shots," Utah guard Trey Burke said.
The last thing Utah wants is Tuesday's loss to snowball into something bigger. The Jazz allowed a season-high 118 points to the Cavaliers, although LeBron James and company have one of the best offenses in the league, statistically. Still, bouncing back defensively against Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and Chris Bosh won't be easy.
Defensive anchor
The Jazz will provide an official update on Rudy Gobert's ankle on Wednesday. But Gobert said he felt like his sprained ankle was minor and that he wanted to play against the Heat.
"I'm good," Gobert told The Tribune.
Gobert missed most of the fourth quarter against Cleveland after turning his ankle. He left the floor and tried to loosen it in a passageway underneath the stands. He came back into the game, then left the floor for good around the five-minute mark.
Both teams guard
The Jazz and Heat are the NBA's two stingiest defenses in terms of points allowed. Heading into Tuesday, Utah allowed 85 points per night, while Miami surrendered 90.4. It's not a coincidence that both teams feature elite rim protectors in Gobert and Heat center Hassan Whiteside.
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