By Adrian Stewart Co
Jordan Clarkson had his best game as a Utah Jazz player as they cruised to a 134-123 victory over Philadelphia 76ers in the 2020-2021 NBA Season on Monday night at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Filipino-American guard tied the franchise record for most three-pointers in the game with eight triples as he finished with season-high 40 points to lead the Jazz, which improved to 23-5 win-loss slate.
Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles added 24 and 20 markers, respectively, while Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert and Royce O’Neale each had 11 points for the Western Conference-leading Utah.
Comfortably ahead at 110-94 early in the fourth following a basket by Clarkson, the Jazz suddenly saw its advantage trimmed to 113-108 on a three-pointer by 76ers’ Tobias Harris.
Three free throws and a three-point conversion by Clarkson, back-to-back triples by O’Neale and baskets from Mitchell and Gobert widened Utah’s advantage anew to 131-120.
Ben Simmons finished with career-high 42 points to go along with 12 assists and nine rebounds, Harris added double-double 36 points and 10 rebounds as the 76ers dropped to 18-10, still on top in the East.
Kyrie Irving and James Harden, meanwhile, combined for 15 triples as the Brooklyn Nets (17-12) cruised to a 136-125 triumph over Sacramento Kings (12-15) at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
Irving waxed hot with 40 points, including nine three-point conversions, while Harden had six treys as he finished with triple-double 29 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds for the Nets.
Stephen Curry for his part connected seven triples and finished with 36 points as the Golden State Warriors (15-13) hacked out a 129-98 domination over Cleveland Cavaliers (10-19).
In other results, New York Knicks (14-15) edged Atlanta Hawks (11-16), 123-112; Chicago Bulls (11-15) stunned Indiana Pacers (14-14), 120-112; Washington Wizards walloped Houston Rockets (11-16), 131-119; and Los Angeles Clippers (21-8) tripped Miami Heat (11-16), 125-118.
BOX SCORE:
UTAH 134 – Clarkson 40, Mitchell 24, Ingles 20, Bogdanovic 11, Gobert 11, O’Neale 11, Favors 8, Niang 6, Oni 3.
PHILADELPHIA 123 – Simmons 42, Harris 36, Howard 14, Curry 11, Scott 6, Maxey 6, Thybulle 5, Green 3, Korkmaz 0, Joe 0.
Quarterscores: 35-42, 72-66, 106-94, 134-123./ASC, WDJ