If the other tanking teams in the NBA are aiming for the worst record of the season, they’re going to have to face a hard truth over the next two weeks — they are currently playing checkers, and the Utah Jazz are playing chess.
Entering Monday, the Charlotte Hornets had been doing a great job of working toward the bottom of the standings. They were losers of five straight games heading into Monday night’s matchup with the Jazz, LaMelo Ball had a minor ankle surgery to end his season, and the Hornets were sinking closer to being able to compete with the Jazz and the Washington Wizards for the ultimate No.