After big defensive effort, Jazz play host to Magic

The Orlando Magic didn’t make a big move prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, but their social media team stepped up in response to their minor deal.

While announcing that Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier are headed to Orlando from Boston (along with a swap of second-round picks), the Magic posted a greeting to the other incoming part of the transaction.

«Welcome to the O, Cash Considerations,» their tweet read.

The Utah Jazz, who play Orlando on Friday in Salt Lake City, made their move a day ahead of the deadline when they shipped the expiring contract of Joe Ingles, their longest-tenured player, Elijah Hughes and cash to Portland for Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Trail Blazers) and Juancho Hernangomez (Spurs) in a three-team trade.

Ingles recently suffered a season-ending knee injury, so the Jazz knew Ingles wouldn’t play anymore under his current contract, which expires after the 2021-22 season. But formally bidding farewell to Ingles, who’s been with Utah for eight years, evoked emotions around Jazzland even while it was a fiscally shrewd tax-saving deal.

«Today hurts,» Ingles tweeted. «I knew it was a possibility but didn’t want to believe it, we have been lucky to call this place home for 8 years! I got a lot more to say, but I’m going to have a beer & relax with some good friends. Go get a win fellas! I’ll always be watching.»

Ingles could return on a smaller contract after completing rehab on his soon-to-be-surgically repaired torn ACL.

It’s uncertain how Alexander-Walker and Hernangomez will fit into the rotation, but after a rough 4-12 January, Utah pushed its February surge to 4-0 by smashing the Golden State Warriors 111-85 on Wednesday.

Utah fell behind 13-0 and, after scraping back to snag the lead, gave up the first eight points of the second half to fall behind the Warriors again. But the Jazz dominated Golden State the rest of the way, outscoring them at a 2-1 rate (56-28) over the final 21 minutes.

That fine defensive performance came with Rudy Gobert still sidelined due to a calf injury. Hassan Whiteside stepped up with seven blocked shots, 17 rebounds and nine points to complement a well-rounded night by Donovan Mitchell (14 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists). Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23.

«They know the things that people say,» Jazz coach Quin Snyder said, referring to quotes other players and pundits have made about Utah’s defense being less than stellar without Gobert. «That’s sometimes a challenge for us, and they take it personally.»

The Magic began a four-game road trip Tuesday with a 113-95 win at Portland, which had just traded long-time Blazer guard C.J. McCollum to New Orleans. Orlando was coming off two ugly home losses.

«Everyone shared the ball. We had a lot of selfless plays when one person could have taken a shot but went for a better shot,» said Cole Anthony, who scored 23 points and dished out nine of his team’s 34 assists. «That was the kind of energy we had as a team tonight and it’s contagious when that happens.»

–Field Level Media