A beeswarm graph of just how hot it's going to get this week compared to every other March 17-21 in recorded Salt Lake City Airport history:

I would be *stunned* if AJ Dybantsa doesn't become a 25 PPG scorer in the NBA at some point. He will score 1 gazillion points

man, the CONVERSATION if Bam gets 81

I’m headed to a conference about data journalism today #NICAR26 and legitimately just very excited to learn new things One thing I think sports journalism doesn’t do well is professional development… there are not very many structured learning chances once you have a job IMO

This challenge should really not be taking this long, Jokic's left arm pushing off clearly impacted George's ability to get to the rim and it's not legal guarding position

Elijah Harkless as primary defender on Nikola Jokic rules so hard

Recording artist Ritt Momney is releasing his new album today. He has a song on the album called "The Tank". Lyrics below. My colleague @pjayswalwrites.bsky.social talked to him and wrote about the album here: www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2...

Fun fact: banning a book actually increases interest in that book generally. "... the circulations of banned books increased by 12%, on average, compared with comparable nonbanned titles after the ban." pubsonline.informs.org/doi/full/10....

Will Hardy on if the Jazz's playing patterns will change as the result of the team's fine from the NBA: "I sat Lauri because he was on a minutes restriction. So if our medical team puts a minutes restriction on Lauri, I’ll try to keep Lauri healthy."

Blazers beat Jazz 135-119. Sensabaugh had 28 points, Bailey 15/8/3 before his Rising Stars appearance. Y'all, it's been lovely covering the Jazz for you. I won't be a stranger.

Mykhailiuk has 11 points in 10 minutes and, after a 17-point deficit, the Jazz are back within 6 with 7:51 left. What a narrative that would be, if the Jazz get a win tonight on the back of Svi play.

Svi Mykhailiuk makes his first appearance with 5:18 in the 3Q... he's been a DNP-CD for the last three games after starting 41 for the Jazz to start the year.

A guy just made four threes in the timeout to win a car*! Had several airballs but got the 4th make just before the buzzer to win it. *note that (as of the last time they gave away a car) it was actually just a lease of a car but still

Oscar Tshiebwe downgraded to out for the rest of the game (concussion protocol).

Jazz up 63-61 at the half on Portland. I did not expect this level of on-court or off-court drama for the Jazz on their last day before the All-Star break!

Oscar Tshiebwe is questionable to return, he is currently in the locker room receiving stitches over his eye.

Maybe too inside baseball but I can guarantee you the Ryan Smith/Bobby Marks situation this week does not happen in the Justin Zanik running-the-Jazz/Adrian Wojnarowski running-ESPN's-NBA-coverage era

A quick story about the NBA's fine and Ryan Smith's tweets tonight: www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/... Also in there: a link to the 6-page full NBA Player Participation Policy, if you're curious

Vince Williams ejected! Those seemed to be two pretty quick technicals from my eyes. First Jazz ejection in a long time... (I believe since Kris Dunn?)

Now Ace Bailey off the backboard to himself for a dunk! All of a sudden the tanking Jazz are in front of Portland.

New two-way contract Blake Hinson getting his first Jazz minutes tonight.

with any luck at all, this can be my final injury report tweet ever

Lauri Markkanen will rest tonight vs. Portland, Jazz announce. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George also out.

Jazz officially announce Jaren Jackson Jr. will undergo surgery for a knee tumor. They're not giving a timetable, but Chris Haynes is saying likely out for the season.

Jazz beat the Kings 121-93. It was... not close. JJJ led the Jazz with 23 points in his home debut. Isaiah Collier had 12p/14a. Markkanen and Sensabaugh with 19 each. One more game before the All-Star break tomorrow.

Props to the Kings for getting to 90 points against this Jazz team, which previously had not allowed fewer than 103 points

Jazz up 71-44 on the Kings at the half. Jazz have an 85 DRtg, Kings look like a team that is really itching to lose 14 games in a row.

Jazz are up 34-13 early on the Kings... hmm, how do I put this... it would be surprising to see the lead change hands from here

Will Hardy on plan for Lauri Markkanen today and tomorrow: "The plan for him is to play tonight on some restricted minutes, and then we'll see how he's feeling after the game, and we'll address tomorrow."

Hold on, Jazz just sent out an update:

Jazz say Lauri Markkanen will rest tomorrow vs. SAC, while Keyonte George remains out with his right ankle sprain.

One more Jazz move coming this week...

Jazz end the half with a 14-2 run and a 61-52 lead over the Heat. Jaren Jackson Jr. has 17 points, he's averaged nearly a point per minute he's on the floor in his time with the Jazz so far.

That was some tanking! Down 3, 7 seconds left, Hardy goes no timeout full court. Isaiah Collier takes the game-tying three attempt, misses. Magic win 120-117. Hugely successful game for the Jazz: proof of concept with Markkanen/JJJ, and still an L in the standings.

Extremely dramatic stuff: there are about 8 Jazz players that would prefer the Jazz win this game, the OKC fanbase and front office, and that's about it. And yet: the Jazz lead by two. Orlando to the FT line. 55 seconds left.

The thing is... even if you try to tank, you may not necessarily be able to do it. Jazz still have a 3-pt lead, 3:37 left, Flip to the FT line. I also do not think this is the very worst Jazz lineup they can put out there.

Jazz have lost the 17-point lead without a Will Hardy timeout... Markkanen and JJJ yet to check in at the 6:30 mark 4Q... I think we're witnessing a tank.

Filipowski gets his first minutes of the game in the 4Q... either Will is experimenting with new lineups or Jazz are going to try to tank this one out

Jazz up to a 92-77 lead on a JJJ three... he has 22 points, 5 reb, 3 stl and is a +14 so far in his first game with the team.

The Jazz have committed some really bad turnovers this game, especially in the backcourt... 15 total. Other than that the offense has been very good. But defense is what stands out so far... Jazz have a 98 DRtg right now tonight.

Jazz say Keyonte George will not return tonight (right ankle sprain).

Isaiah Collier starting the half for Keyonte George, who remains in the locker room.

Jazz up 65-54 on the Magic at the half. Markkanen (21 points) & JJJ (17 points) look absolutely terrific, Isaiah Collier playing well too (7p/6a/0to). John Konchar made an impact in his six minutes. Right now, Vince Williams, Kyle Filipowski and Svi Mykhailiuk out of rotation.

Keyonte George actually tried to come back in there after the timeout, but the Jazz weren't having it. Isaiah Collier in, George back to the locker room.

Keyonte George down. I think just an ankle sprain. It's his right foot, not the left one he sprained last week.

That was a *weird* challenge from Hardy... even Ace knew he fouled him

Both alley-oops to Markkanen have looked like incredible plays and I can't tell if it's because I'm sitting baseline here in Orlando and I'm not used to this angle or they really were incredible plays

Was talking about this with a player tonight... Jazz have remaining: - Memphis twice - Milwaukee twice - Pelicans three times - Portland twice (lost 6 in a row) - Sacramento twice - Wizards twice There are going to be some generational tank decisions on display for the next 2 months

Bailey misses the last shot, and Hawks squeaaaaaak out the win — the meekest bird caw-caw of a squeak you ever did hear. Isaiah Collier: 25 points, 11 assists, 48 minutes again. First player in a decade. Ace Bailey had 20 points, albeit on 9-26 FG. Markkanen: 18 points, DNP 4Q.

Ace Bailey game-tying three, then NAW go ahead 2! Timeout Jazz, down 2, 1.3 seconds left.