Clarkson scores 30, Mitchell-less Jazz rout Hawks 116-98

ATLANTA (AP) — Jordan Clarkson was coming off one of his worst games.

His teammates told him to keep shooting.

That confidence sure paid off on a night when the Utah Jazz didn't have their leading scorer.

Clarkson scored 30 points and the Jazz blew away the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter for a 116-98 victory Thursday night despite the absence of Donovan Mitchell.

“Everybody just coming up to me and saying, ‘J.C., keep shooting, keep shooting. It's gonna happen,'" Clarkson said. “That's why I love this team. I love my teammates, I love the coaching staff, I love this organization. They believe in me and believe in what I can do. It's beautiful."

Mitchell did not dress because of a sprained right ankle, but last season's NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner got hot at just the right time to give the Jazz their eighth victory in nine games.

It was tight through the first three quarters, with the Jazz heading to the final period up 75-74. But Utah blew away the home team in the final 12 minutes, knocking down eight 3-pointers while hitting 13 of their final 22 shots.

Clarkson was coming off a miserable game Tuesday night, going 0 for 11 from 3-point range and 1 of 13 overall to finish with just two points in a victory over Sacramento.

It was his second straight game without a 3 after making at least one from long range in 99 consecutive games.

It took another half to finally break out of his slump. Clarkson missed five more 3-pointers over the first two quarters, stretching his drought beyond the arc to 23 consecutive shots.

Finally, just past the midway point of the third period, Clarkson pulled up from 27 feet and got one to drop. He kept right on firing and made three more 3-pointers, finishing with a season high in points on 10-of-19 shooting.

“We know how...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Clarkson-scores-30-Mitchell-less-Jazz-rout-Hawks-16594056.php