Utah Jazz (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
Although the Utah Jazz struggled down the stretch before the All-Star break, even the three losses in those last four outings didn’t keep these Jazzmen (27-9) from boasting the No. 1 record in the league at the midpoint of this 2020-21 season. And they’ve essentially dominated despite a scarcity of undeniable top-grade weapons.
Yes, without a single starter in Sunday’s showcase — rather, three reserves in the form of the two dead-last selections in the All-Star Draft plus a last-minute alternate — Utah will be on track for the top playoff seed among a loaded Western Conference when the second half of its regular season tips off at 8 p.