Royce O’Neale only learned he would make a rare start minutes before that, after the team had met to discuss the game plan.
But if anyone questioned his readiness, those doubts were soon assuaged: O’Neale got his hands on the ball the first three times Dillon Brooks, his man, touched it on offense, garnering two steals within the first two minutes.
The Jazz wanted to start better than they have the last week, so there was O’Neale, getting steals and helping spark the team in a 29-14 first quarter. The Jazz lost the lead, so there was O’Neale, rallying them in a key third-quarter run with baskets and assists.