MIKE CONLEY

Donovan Mitchell had 46 points in his return to Utah, but the Jazz rallied late behind Jordan Clarkson to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114.

Fans hate it. Players are split on it. But how important is load management in the NBA? Ric Bucher breaks down how today's game is actually more physical than ever before.

Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson added 20 points and the Utah Jazz continued their remarkable start to the season with a 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

A dramatic roster overhaul has left the Utah Jazz with a load of new faces entering this season. Utah traded Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, and Bojan Bogdanovic in separate deals over the summer, effectively tearing down a team that endured a series of disappointing early playoff exits. Following that flurry of offseason moves, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and Rudy Gay are the only returning players who played significant minutes last season.

Utah continued to revamp its roster continued Thursday with the Jazz agreeing to send forward Bojan Bogdanovic to the Detroit Pistons for forward Kelly Olynyk and guard Saben Lee, according to a person with knowledge of the trade. Detroit will become the fifth NBA club for Bogdanovic. He played in 40 games for Detroit last season, averaging 9.1 points. Lee averaged 5.6 points in each of his first two NBA seasons, both with the Pistons. The move means that all but one of Utah’s regular starters from last season no longer are with the Jazz.

Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson each scored 24 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 98-96 on Thursday night in Game 6 to wrap up the first-round series.

Mavericks Jazz Basketball Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) tries to get a rebound next to Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley, rear, during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY — (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 31 points playing with a bruised back and the Dallas Mavericks — without the injured Luka Doncic — beat the Utah Jazz 126-118 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series. Conley got the Jazz to 103-102, but Dinwiddie made two baskets and Brunson scored six points on three straight possessions to make it 113-104. Once the Jazz finally matched the Mavericks and played without a center, the court opened up for Utah. … Eric Paschall only played 10 minutes (at center) but scored six points and Utah outscored Dallas by nine points during that time.

Jalen Brunson scored 31 points playing with a bruised back and the Dallas Mavericks — without the injured Luka Doncic — beat the Utah Jazz 126-118 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.

Klay Thompson scored 36 points and the Golden State Warriors erased a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Utah Jazz 111-107.

LeBron James scored 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 14-point second half deficit to defeat the Utah Jazz 106-101 Wednesday night.

Devin Booker scored 33 points, Chris Paul had 15 of his a season-high 27 points in the fourth quarter, and the Phoenix Suns rallied for a 115-109 win over the short-handed Utah Jazz.

Jazz Warriors Basketball Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, drives to the basket against Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 20 points to lead a balanced Golden State scoring attack, and the Warriors held off a late Utah rally to beat the Jazz 94-92 on Sunday night. That streak dates back to exactly a year ago, when the Jazz won 127-108 in Utah on Jan. 23, 2021. Warriors: Veteran Andre Iguodala sat out as Golden State manages his left hip injury. ... Golden State took care of the ball, committing just 10 turnovers.

Jordan Poole scored 20 points to lead a balanced Golden State scoring attack, and the Warriors held off a late Utah rally to beat the Jazz 94-92.

Jazz Trail Blazers Basketball Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard dribbles past Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) (Amanda Loman)During the Tokyo Olympics, when Damian Lillard's abdominal injury flared up, Jrue Holiday suggested it was time for surgery. The Trail Blazers' star point guard spoke to reporters Saturday for the first time since the injury sidelined him on Jan. 3. Holiday, who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, had similar core surgery during the 2018-19 season when he was with New Orleans. Anfernee Simons has taken over as Portland's point guard and has averaged 15.1 points per game.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said fellow Olympic teammate Jrue Holiday helped convince him to have surgery on his abdomen.

LeBron James scored 25 points and Stanley Johnson had 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-95 win over the Utah Jazz.

Jazz Trail Blazers Basketball Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard dribbles past Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) (Amanda Loman)PORTLAND, Ore. — (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard had surgery to repair a core injury that has been causing him abdominal pain this season. He will be evaluated in six weeks but there is no timetable for his return, the Trail Blazers said Thursday. Lillard, a six-time All-Star, has missed five games since the start of the year, and 11 games overall this season, because of lower abdominal tendinopathy. Lillard has averaged 24 points and 7.3 assists in 29 games this season for the Blazers.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has had surgery to repair a core injury that has been causing him abdominal pain.

Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points and the Utah Jazz beat the COVID-19-depleted Dallas Mavericks 120-116.

Cole Anthony scored 10 of his season-best 33 points in the fourth quarter and keyed a game-closing 24-11 run that helped the Orlando Magic past the Utah Jazz 107-100.

Point guards were the immediate focus when the NBA’s free agency window opened Monday night, with Kyle Lowry headed to the Miami Heat, Lonzo Ball on his way to the Chicago Bulls while Chris Paul and Mike Conley landed lucrative deals to remain with their current teams.

Terance Mann scored a career-high 39 points and the Los Angeles Clippers advanced to a conference final for the first time in the franchise’s 51-year history, beating the Utah Jazz 131-119 on Friday night.

Clippers Jazz Basketball Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) walls off the court following the team's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell were in Utah's starting lineup for Game 6 on Friday night, with the Jazz facing elimination in the second-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 17.4 points and 8.6 assists in the Memphis series. The 6-foot-3 guard missed the first game of the Memphis series due to the ankle injury. Mitchell had scored 30-plus points in six straight postseason games but was held to 21 in Wednesday's 119-111 loss.

Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell were in Utah’s starting lineup for Game 6 on Friday night, with the Jazz facing elimination in the second-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The NBA’s top playoff seeds, Philadelphia and Utah, are facing elimination.

Paul George had 37 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 119-111 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George each scored 31 points — the second straight game they have both had over 30 points — and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 118-104 in Game 4 Monday night to even their Western Conference second-round series at two games apiece.

Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and 12 rebounds, Paul George added 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers got back into their second-round series against the Utah Jazz with a 132-106 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night.

The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in familiar territory — down 2-0 in their second straight playoff series and seeing one player outplay their two superstars.

Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points and the Utah Jazz forced nine straight misses down the stretch to outlast the Los Angeles Clippers 117-111 and take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Donovan Mitchell scored 45 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 112-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series.

Donovan Mitchell scored 26 of his 30 points in the first half and the Utah Jazz advanced to the second round of the playoffs, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110 on Wednesday night in Game 5.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, and the top-seeded Utah Jazz grabbed a 3-1 lead by holding off the Memphis Grizzlies 120-113.

(AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis)MEMPHIS, Tenn. — (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies fans cheered Mike Conley earlier this year when he finally earned All-Star recognition in his 14th season. “Sometimes you live long enough to become the villain, and I’ve become that for I guess the Memphis Grizzlies now," Conley said. Conley is trying to lead the top-seeded Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals, which eluded him during a seven-year playoff run in Memphis. Morant is leading the youngest roster in this postseason with 33.7 points per game, trailing only Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard. He is coming off his best playoff game yet with 36 points, making 14 of 18 shots despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter.

Memphis Grizzlies’ fans cheered Mike Conley earlier this year when he finally earned All-Star recognition in his 14th season.

Kyle Anderson had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 13 rebounds. That's when Mitchell scored on a three-point play to put the Jazz ahead to stay at 110-109. Utah scored the first four points and led 34-22 after the first quarter. Grizzlies: Memphis came in having won eight of its last 10. The Grizzlies are 6-2 over their last eight Game 3s, with this loss joining 2016 when they were swept by San Antonio.

Donovan Mitchell scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and the top-seeded Utah Jazz beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-111 on Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.

Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points in his much-anticipated return from a sprained ankle and the Utah Jazz overcame Ja Morant’s franchise-record 47 points in a 141-129 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.

Dillon Brooks had 31 points and seven rebounds and the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies beat the top-seeded Utah Jazz 112-109 in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.

Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.

Stephen Curry made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 14 seconds left moments after missing from deep, scoring 36 points to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz 119-116 on Monday night to keep hold of the eighth seed in the playoff race.

Devin Booker scored 31 points, Mikal Bridges added 18 and the Phoenix Suns pulled into a tie for the top spot in the Western Conference by beating the Utah Jazz 121-100 on Friday night.

D’Angelo Russell had a season-high seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 105-104.

Dennis Schröder hit the tying basket to force overtime and finished with 25 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Utah Jazz 127-115 in a game between short-handed teams.

Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points before leaving the game with a sprained ankle in the third quarter, and the NBA-leading Utah Jazz beat the Indiana Pacers 119-111.

Devin Booker scored 35 points, Chris Paul added 29 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Utah Jazz 117-113 in overtime Wednesday night in an entertaining matchup between the top two teams in the NBA.

Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and the Utah Jazz set an NBA record for 3-pointers in a half in a 137-91 win over the short-handed Orlando Magic, extending their franchise-best home winning streak to 22.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives around Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12) in the first half during an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY – Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and the Utah Jazz routed the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 118-88 on Wednesday night. This matchup between Eastern and Western Conference contenders lost some luster when the Nets James Harden was scratched due to a sore neck. At halftime, the Jazz led 63-38 – the lowest scoring first half of the season for Brooklyn. Even with all their stars, the Nets have struggled defensively this season and relied on their supercharged offense to get their wins.

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)ATLANTA – Stephen Curry shot his way to another 3-point title and Domantas Sabonis made sure the Skills Challenge still belongs to the bigs. Conley had the lead with 27 points before Curry was the final shooter of the contest. Curry had 26 points before sinking his final shot from the corner for 28 points and the win. Tatum led off the final round with 17 points while making only one shot from the “money ball” rack. In the final, Toppin took off from near the free-throw line, inspiring comparisons to Wilkins' winning form while with the Atlanta Hawks.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)ATLANTA – It's the NBA All-Star Game almost no one seemed to want. "It’s the All-Star Game, so there’s going to be some shenanigans out there. Team LeBron will play on behalf of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, while Team Durant represents the United Negro College Fund. Trae Young, a starter in 2020, was snubbed this season despite averaging 26.4 points — the most of any player not selected for the All-Star Game.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker watches as play continues after he was knocked to the floor during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker won't play in the NBA All-Star Game this weekend because of a mild sprain in his left knee, opening up space for Utah's Mike Conley to make his first All-Star appearance. Booker was hurt in the first quarter of a victory over Golden State on Thursday. Booker was set to play in his second All-Star Game after he was put on the roster as an injury replacement for Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis. Conley's addition to the All-Star roster is a feel-good story for the veteran point guard.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, goes up for a shot against Utah Jazz's Bojan Bogdanovic, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. The game included four players who will be participating in Sunday’s All-Star game in Embiid and Simmons, and Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert of the Jazz. AdThe Jazz beat Philadelphia 134-123 on Feb. 15 in Utah when Embiid sat with a back injury. The 76ers couldn’t free their shooters for a tying 3, so Embiid stepped back and drained one himself with 5.9 seconds remaining. Mitchell had 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Jazz, who lost their second straight.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) goes to the basket over Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang, left, and center Rudy Gobert, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Monday, March 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)NEW ORLEANS – Zion Williamson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the New Orleans Pelicans held off a late Utah charge to beat the NBA-leading Jazz 129-124 on Monday night. Williamson scored 15 points and added a pair of assists in the quarter. ... Utah had its highest scoring second quarter of the season with 41 points ... Utah shot 45.5% (46 of 101), including 17 of 43 from 3-point range. Pelicans: Hart scored 13 points to go with seven rebounds.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Joe Ingles filled in well again at point guard in place of Mike Conley to help the Utah Jazz beat the Orlando Magic 124-109 on Saturday night. Utah bounced back from a loss a night earlier in Miami, improving to 6-1 following a defeat. The NBA-leading Jazz have lost consecutive games just once all season and not since Jan. 6 when they were 4-4. The Jazz led my 19 in the fourth quarter and improved to 25-0 when leading after three periods. Magic All-Star center Nikola Vucevic scored 34 points, but missed out on his 24th double-double by two rebounds.

Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk (9) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)MIAMI – The Miami Heat don't believe in statement wins. “A high-level game," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “and we had some big plays down the stretch." Duncan Robinson scored 15 and Kendrick Nunn added 12 for the Heat, who held Utah to 29% shooting in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth game in Heat history in which both teams had at least 94 points through three quarters.

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)Looking at individual stats reveals nothing about the Utah Jazz. “Nobody’s playing as well as the Utah Jazz in the NBA right now.”AdAt 26-6, the Jazz sit atop the NBA. The Jazz have made 544 3s, the most in NBA history by any team in its first 32 games. But with the way they're playing now, even Vogel concedes that the Jazz are doing a whole lot right. They’re playing like the best team in the league right now.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Phoenix’s Chris Paul is an All-Star for the 11th time, and Brooklyn’s James Harden is one for the ninth consecutive year. The rest of the reserves include Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic from the Eastern Conference, along with the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, Utah teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Portland’s Damian Lillard from the Western Conference. Williamson is 20, and only Kobe Bryant, James and Magic Johnson were younger in their All-Star debuts. But this will be his first time in the All-Star Game itself. AdCOACHESUtah’s Quin Snyder will coach Team LeBron, and Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers will coach Team Durant.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half during an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz enjoyed another record-breaking performance from long range Monday night in a 132-110 victory against the Hornets. The Jazz set their previous mark for 3s with 26 in the first meeting between the teams on Feb. 5. Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball each scored 21 points to lead the Hornets. Jazz: Utah became the fastest team in NBA history to make 500 3-pointers in a season, reaching the milestone in just 31 games.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, right, celebrates with forward Kawhi Leonard during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)LOS ANGELES – Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, reserve Lou Williams had 19 and the Los Angeles Clippers edged Utah 116-112 on Friday night, snapping the Jazz's nine-game winning streak. Los Angeles played without a center in the fourth, when Morris was added to the rotation and scored 10 points. “We got our guys back and we wanted to win this game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. His pair of free throws sent Los Angeles into the fourth leading 79-75.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) pulls down a rebound as Milwaukee Bucks guard D.J. Augustin, rear, looks on in the second half during an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY – Rudy Gobert had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129-115 on Friday night for their sixth straight victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 of his 29 points in the second half, but Milwaukee dropped its second straight game after a five-game win streak. The Jazz packed the paint all game on defense and picked up two defensive 3-second violations along the way.

There was whole squad of sports stars on hand Monday for the NBA Experience at the Disney Springs shopping and entertainment center near Orlando. The attraction isnt in a theme park at Walt Disney World, but at the dining and entertainment complex. On the ground level, an exhibit spotlighting NBA and WNBA players, the Combine experience and the NBA Store await. Upstairs there are more activities, including a dunking and slingshot experience and a basketball court where a game clock counts down your shots. The NBA Experience is located at 1486 Buena Vista Drive in Lake Buena Vista.