Just like that, whatever momentum the Jazz had generated was gone. And after a 108-98 loss at Vivint Smart Home Arena, a return to the NBA playoffs in 2018 looks much less likely.
That’s the impact of a defeat that dropped the Jazz 3½ games behind the Pelicans for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. As of Saturday, when the Jazz impressively beat Cleveland and New Orleans lost at home to New York, the playoff possibilities were coming into view.
The outlook changed Wednesday, when the Jazz didn’t respond well to a big game in front of a sellout crowd.