1996–97 Utah Jazz season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Jazz's 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[1] Prior to the start of the season, the Jazz changed their primary logo that more closely reflects the state of Utah, featuring purple mountains and light blue in the script,^[2][3][4] plus adding new uniforms.^[5][6]

1996–97 Utah Jazz season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	Jerry Sloan
General manager	Tim Howells
Owner(s)	Larry H. Miller
Arena	Delta Center
Results
Record	64–18 (.780)
Place	Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA Finals (lost to Bulls 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KJZZ-TV Fox Sports Utah
Radio	KFNZ
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

The new colors seemed to agree with the Jazz, as they went on a 15-game winning streak between November and December after a 2–2 start to the regular season.^[7] With a 33–14 record at mid-season,^[8] the Jazz then posted a 31–4 record after the All-Star break, where they posted another 15-game winning streak between March and April,^[9] winning 19 of their final 20 games, and finishing in first place in the Midwest Division, and in the Western Conference with a franchise best record of 64–18.^[10] They made their fourteenth consecutive trip to the playoffs.^[11] The team also had the second best home record in the league with a 38–3 record at the Delta Center.

Karl Malone averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and was named Most Valuable Player of the Year, finishing in first place ahead of Michael Jordan in Most Valuable Player voting,^{[12][13][14][15][16]} while being named to the All-NBA First Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Jeff Hornacek averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while John Stockton provided the team with 14.4 points, 10.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Meanwhile, Bryon Russell showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 10.8 points and 1.4 steals per game, and leading the Jazz with 108 three-point field goals, while second-year center Greg Ostertag averaged 7.3 points and rebounds per game each, and led the team with 2.0 blocks per game, and Antoine Carr contributed 7.4 points per game off the bench.^[17]

Malone and Stockton were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio.^{[18][19][20][21][22]} Stockton also finished in fifteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[23][16] and head coach Jerry Sloan finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.^{[24][25][26][23][16]}

In the playoffs, the Jazz got off to a flying start in the Western Conference First Round, sweeping the Los Angeles Clippers in three straight games.^{[27][28][29][30]} In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they continued to roll easily knocking the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.^{[31][32][33][34]}

In the Western Conference Finals, they took a 2–0 series lead over the Houston Rockets, who were led by Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Clyde Drexler.^[35][36][37] However, the Rockets would even the series at two games a piece, as Rockets forward Eddie Johnson hit a dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer to win Game 4, 95–92.^[38][39][40] After the Jazz took Game 5 at home, 96–91,^[41][42][43] Game 6 would be another battle and appeared to be heading for overtime, until Stockton nailed a three-point buzzer beater that launched the Jazz to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Rockets on the road, 103–100.^{[44][45][46][47]} In their first trip to the finals, the Jazz lost in six games to Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls.^{[48][49][50][51][52]}

One notable highlight of the season was the Jazz trailing 70–36 at halftime to the Denver Nuggets at home on November 27, 1996, but came back from a 34-point deficit, outscoring the Nuggets 71–33 in the second half to win the game, 107–103.^{[53][54][55][56]} The Jazz's new primary logo and uniforms would both remain in use until 2004.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	25	Martin Müürsepp	PF/SF	Estonia
2	54	Shandon Anderson	SF/SG	United States	Georgia

Roster

1996–97 Utah Jazz roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 40 Shandon Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1973–12–31 Georgia F 55 Antoine Carr 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–07–23 Wichita State G 10 Howard Eisley 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 1972–12–04 Boston College C 44 Greg Foster 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–10–03 UTEP G 14 Jeff Hornacek 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–05–03 Iowa State F 43 Stephen Howard 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1970–05–15 DePaul F 31 Adam Keefe 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1970–02–22 Stanford F 32 Karl Malone 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1963–07–24 Louisiana Tech F 34 Chris Morris 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–01–20 Auburn C 00 Greg Ostertag 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1973–03–06 Kansas F 3 Bryon Russell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1970–12–31 Long Beach State G 12 John Stockton 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1962–03–26 Gonzaga

Head coach Jerry Sloan Assistant(s) Gordon Chiesa David Fredman Phil Johnson Kenny Natt Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: March 5, 1997

Roster Notes

• Small forward Jamie Watson was waived on March 5, 1997.

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–	38–3	26–15	19–5
x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7	30–11	27–14	19–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24	25–16	15–26	16–8
Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40	14–27	10–31	9–15
Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43	12–29	9–32	7–17
San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44	12–29	8–33	8–16
Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50	8–33	6–35	6–18

1996–97 NBA West standings

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	7
3	x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7
4	x-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	8
5	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	15
6	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24
7	x-Phoenix Suns	40	42	.488	24
8	x-Los Angeles Clippers	36	46	.439	28
9	Sacramento Kings	34	48	.415	30
10	Golden State Warriors	30	52	.366	34
11	Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40
12	Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43
13	San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44
14	Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

^[57]

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHX	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Boston	1–3	—	0–4	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–4
Charlotte	3–1	4–0	—	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Chicago	3–1	4–0	4–0	—	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1
Cleveland	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	—	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	—	3–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	—	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1
Detroit	3–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	—	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	1–3	4–0	0–4	2–0	0–4	3–1	0–2
Houston	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	—	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0
Indiana	1–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	—	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	2–2	—	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0
Miami	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	—	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Milwaukee	0–4	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	—	0–2	2–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
New Jersey	1–3	4–0	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	—	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–2	—	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
Orlando	1–3	4–0	2–1	0–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	—	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3
Philadelphia	0–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–3	2–2	—	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	—	2–2	4–0	1–3	0–2	2–2	4–0	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	—	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	—	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	—	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Toronto	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	3–0	0–3	0–4	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	—	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	—	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–4	—	1–1
Washington	1–2	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1996–97 game log Total: 64–18 (home: 38–3; road: 26–15)
November: 11–2 (home: 8–1; road: 3–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 1 7:00 p.m. MST Seattle W 99–91 Malone (27) Malone (13) Hornacek, Stockton (8) Delta Center 19,911 1–0 2 November 2 @ L.A. Clippers W 95–90 Malone (21) Malone (12) Stockton (7) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 13,041 2–0 3 November 4 7:00 p.m. MST Houston L 72–75 Malone (16) Malone (14) Hornacek (5) Delta Center 19,911 2–1 4 November 9 6:30 p.m. MST @ Houston L 85–91 Malone (32) Malone (11) Stockton (6) The Summit 16,285 2–2 5 November 13 Sacramento W 105–74 Malone (22) Ostertag (13) Stockton (10) Delta Center 19,283 3–2 6 November 15 Vancouver W 104–96 Malone (21) Ostertag (20) Stockton (18) Delta Center 19,046 4–2 7 November 16 @ Dallas W 88–87 Stockton (23) Russell (13) Stockton (8) Reunion Arena 15,947 5–2 8 November 20 7:30 p.m. MST @ L.A. Lakers W 113–97 Malone (37) Ostertag (9) Stockton (13) Great Western Forum 16,122 6–2 9 November 21 Golden State W 109–104 (OT) Delta Center 18,889 7–2 10 November 23 7:00 p.m. MST Chicago W 105–100 Malone (36) Malone (15) Stockton (13) Delta Center 19,911 8–2 11 November 25 New Jersey W 108–92 Delta Center 19,132 9–2 12 November 27 Denver W 107–103 Delta Center 19,324 10–2 13 November 29 L.A. Clippers W 111–94 Delta Center 19,381 11–2
December: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 14 December 1 6:00 p.m. MST @ Seattle W 96–90 KeyArena 17,072 12–2 15 December 2 Charlotte W 107–97 Delta Center 19,410 13–2 16 December 4 6:00 p.m. MST L.A. Lakers W 101–75 Delta Center 19,911 14–2 17 December 6 Minnesota W 106–95 Delta Center 19,911 15–2 18 December 7 @ Denver W 104–91 McNichols Sports Arena 12,837 16–2 19 December 10 Indiana W 110–86 Delta Center 19,911 17–2 20 December 12 Phoenix L 87–95 Delta Center 19,911 17–3 21 December 14 Orlando W 101–68 Delta Center 19,911 18–3 22 December 17 5:30 p.m. MST @ New York L 94–99 Malone (29) Malone (14) Stockton (5) Madison Square Garden 19,763 18–4 23 December 19 5:30 p.m. MST @ Miami W 94–87 (OT) Malone (35) Malone (16) Stockton (10) Miami Arena 14,919 19–4 24 December 20 @ Orlando W 98–93 Orlando Arena 17,248 20–4 25 December 22 @ Cleveland L 94–100 Gund Arena 17,205 20–5 26 December 23 @ Minnesota L 98–107 Target Center 14,434 20–6 27 December 26 Portland W 99–94 Delta Center 19,911 21–6 28 December 28 Philadelphia W 110–84 Delta Center 19,911 22–6 29 December 30 @ L.A. Clippers L 101–115 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 22–7
January: 9–6 (home: 5–0; road: 4–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 30 January 2 @ San Antonio L 80–83 Alamodome 15,220 22–8 31 January 4 7:00 p.m. MST Miami W 83–80 Malone (28) Malone (12) Stockton (11) Delta Center 19,911 23–8 32 January 6 6:30 p.m. MST @ Chicago L 89–102 Malone (27) Malone (11) Stockton (11) United Center 23,882 23–9 33 January 8 @ Milwaukee L 112–119 (OT) Bradley Center 23–10 34 January 9 @ Toronto L 96–110 SkyDome 23–11 35 January 11 @ Detroit L 77–87 The Palace of Auburn Hills 23–12 36 January 13 @ Philadelphia W 97–96 (OT) CoreStates Center 24–12 37 January 16 Phoenix W 95–91 Delta Center 25–12 38 January 17 @ Vancouver W 106–68 General Motors Place 26–12 39 January 19 @ Portland L 96–102 Rose Garden 26–13 40 January 20 Cleveland W 94–74 Delta Center 27–13 41 January 22 @ Phoenix W 111–99 America West Arena 28–13 42 January 25 6:30 p.m. MST @ Houston W 105–100 (OT) Malone (27) Malone (17) Stockton (11) The Summit 16,285 29–13 43 January 28 Denver W 114–99 Delta Center 30–13 44 January 30 7:00 p.m. MST Atlanta W 102–96 Delta Center 31–13
February: 9–3 (home: 7–1; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 1 @ Dallas L 97–100 Reunion Arena 31–14 46 February 3 Washington W 111–89 Delta Center 32–14 47 February 5 6:00 p.m. MST @ Seattle W 99–95 KeyArena 33–14 All-Star Break 48 February 11 @ Sacramento W 120–98 ARCO Arena 34–14 49 February 13 Portland W 110–86 Delta Center 35–14 50 February 15 Dallas W 99–84 Delta Center 36–14 51 February 18 San Antonio W 113–105 Delta Center 37–14 52 February 20 Boston W 122–105 Delta Center 38–14 53 February 23 1:30 p.m. MST Seattle L 87–89 (OT) Delta Center 38–15 54 February 25 7:00 p.m. MST New York W 110–99 Malone (33) Ostertag (13) Stockton (12) Delta Center 19,911 39–15 55 February 27 Toronto W 118–114 Delta Center 40–15 56 February 28 @ Portland L 105–115 Rose Garden 40–16
March: 14–1 (home: 4–0; road: 10–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 March 2 @ Vancouver W 93–86 General Motors Place 41–16 58 March 3 @ Golden State W 111–104 San Jose Arena 42–16 59 March 5 Dallas W 96–65 Delta Center 43–16 60 March 7 Detroit W 95–88 Delta Center 44–16 61 March 9 @ Minnesota W 115–106 Target Center 45–16 62 March 11 5:30 p.m. MST @ Atlanta L 99–106 The Omni 45–17 63 March 12 @ New Jersey W 117–102 Continental Airlines Arena 46–17 64 March 14 @ Indiana W 105–96 Market Square Arena 47–17 65 March 15 @ Washington W 100–93 US Airways Arena 48–17 66 March 17 @ Charlotte W 114–93 Charlotte Coliseum 49–17 67 March 19 @ Boston W 113–100 Fleet Center 50–17 68 March 22 L.A. Clippers W 107–94 Delta Center 51–17 69 March 23 @ Denver W 120–103 McNichols Sports Arena 52–17 70 March 28 Milwaukee W 101–96 Delta Center 53–17 71 March 29 @ San Antonio W 115–102 Alamodome 54–17
April: 10–1 (home: 7–0; road: 3–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 72 April 2 Sacramento W 118–87 Delta Center 55–17 73 April 4 Vancouver W 106–79 Delta Center 56–17 74 April 6 @ Golden State W 114–100 San Jose Arena 57–17 75 April 7 San Antonio W 116–93 Delta Center 58–17 76 April 9 6:00 p.m. MDT L.A. Lakers W 101–89 Delta Center 59–17 77 April 11 7:00 p.m. MDT Houston W 104–83 Malone (28) Malone (13) Stockton (8) Delta Center 19,911 60–17 78 April 13 1:30 p.m. MDT @ L.A. Lakers L 98–100 Great Western Forum 60–18 41 April 15 @ Phoenix W 127–122 America West Arena 61–18 80 April 17 Golden State W 106–93 Delta Center 62–18 81 April 19 Minnesota W 101–89 Delta Center 63–18 82 April 20 @ Sacramento W 113–109 ARCO Arena 64–18
1996–97 schedule

Playoffs

1997 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 24 L.A. Clippers W 106–86 Malone (27) Malone (10) Stockton (17) Delta Center 19,911 1–0 2 April 26 L.A. Clippers W 105–99 Malone (39) Malone (11) Hornacek, Stockton (4) Delta Center 19,911 2–0 3 April 28 @ L.A. Clippers W 104–92 Malone (26) Malone (13) Stockton (13) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11,747 3–0
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 4 3:30 p.m. MDT L.A. Lakers W 93–77 Malone (23) Malone (13) Hornacek (7) Delta Center 19,911 1–0 2 May 6 8:30 p.m. MDT L.A. Lakers W 103–101 Malone (31) Malone (11) Hornacek, Stockton (7) Delta Center 19,911 2–0 3 May 8 8:30 p.m. MDT @ L.A. Lakers L 84–104 Hornacek (26) Malone (10) Stockton (8) Great Western Forum 17,505 2–1 4 May 10 1:30 p.m. MDT @ L.A. Lakers W 110–95 Russell (29) Russell (10) Stockton (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 3–1 5 May 12 8:30 p.m. MDT L.A. Lakers W 98–93 (OT) Malone (32) Malone (20) Stockton (10) Delta Center 19,911 4–1
Western Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 19 6:30 p.m. MDT Houston W 101–86 Malone (21) Malone (13) Stockton (13) Delta Center 19,911 1–0 2 May 21 6:30 p.m. MDT Houston W 104–92 Stockton (26) Malone (15) Stockton (12) Delta Center 19,911 2–0 3 May 23 6:30 p.m. MDT @ Houston L 100–118 Malone (21) Ostertag (9) Stockton (10) The Summit 16,285 2–1 4 May 25 1:30 p.m. MDT @ Houston L 92–95 Malone, Stockton (22) Malone (10) Stockton (8) The Summit 16,285 2–2 5 May 27 7:00 p.m. MDT Houston W 96–91 Malone (29) Malone (14) Stockton (6) Delta Center 19,911 3–2 6 May 29 7:00 p.m. MDT @ Houston W 103–100 Stockton (25) Ostertag (14) Stockton (13) The Summit 16,285 4–2
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 June 1 5:30 p.m. MDT @ Chicago L 82–84 Malone (23) Malone (15) Stockton (12) United Center 24,544 0–1 2 June 4 7:00 p.m. MDT @ Chicago L 85–97 Malone (20) Malone (13) Stockton (7) United Center 24,544 0–2 3 June 6 7:00 p.m. MDT Chicago W 104–93 Malone (37) Malone (10) Stockton (12) Delta Center 19,911 1–2 4 June 8 5:30 p.m. MDT Chicago W 78–73 Malone (23) Malone (10) Stockton (12) Delta Center 19,911 2–2 5 June 11 7:00 p.m. MDT Chicago L 88–90 Malone (19) Ostertag (15) Malone (6) Delta Center 19,911 2–3 6 June 13 7:00 p.m. MDT @ Chicago L 86–90 Malone (21) Ostertag (8) Stockton (5) United Center 24,544 2–4
1997 schedule

NBA Finals

In the Finals, the Jazz faced the Chicago Bulls losing the first two games on the road. However, the Jazz upon arriving at the Delta Center continued their home court advantage by taking Game 3, and Game 4 to even the series. With a chance to take a series lead in Game 5, the Jazz were beaten by a heroic performance by Michael Jordan playing with the flu like ailment 90–88.^{[58][59][60][61][62]} Back in Chicago for Game 6, the Jazz battled the Bulls tightly before falling by four points as the Bulls won their fifth title in seven years.^[63]

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Shandon Anderson	65	0	16.4	.462	.511	.687	2.8	.8	.4	.1	5.9
Antoine Carr	82	0	17.8	.483	.000	.780	2.4	.9	.3	.8	7.4
Howard Eisley	82	0	13.2	.451	.278	.787	1.0	2.4	.5	.1	4.5
Greg Foster	79	12	11.6	.453	.667	.831	2.4	.4	.1	.3	3.5
Jeff Hornacek	82	82	31.6	.482	.369	.899	2.9	4.4	1.5	.3	14.5
Stephen Howard†	42	0	8.3	.573		.597	1.8	.2	.3	.2	3.6
Adam Keefe	62	0	14.8	.513	.000	.689	3.5	.5	.5	.2	3.8
Karl Malone	82	82	36.6	.550	.000	.755	9.9	4.5	1.4	.6	27.4
Chris Morris	73	1	13.4	.408	.274	.722	2.2	.6	.4	.3	4.3
Ruben Nembhard†	8	0	11.8	.414	.000	.800	1.0	1.5	.8	.0	4.0
Greg Ostertag	77	70	23.6	.515	.000	.678	7.3	.4	.3	2.0	7.3
Bryon Russell	81	81	31.2	.479	.409	.701	4.1	1.5	1.6	.3	10.8
John Stockton	82	82	35.3	.548	.422	.846	2.8	10.5	2.0	.2	14.4
Brooks Thompson†	2	0	4.0	.000			.0	.5	.0	.0	.0
Jamie Watson†	13	0	9.9	.440	.333	.833	1.4	.8	.8	.2	2.5

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Shandon Anderson	18	0	16.4	.439	.417	.714	2.7	.7	.6	.1	4.6
Antoine Carr	20	0	14.0	.482		.750	2.0	.5	.3	.5	4.9
Howard Eisley	20	0	10.9	.500	.474	.964	.9	2.0	.2	.0	5.6
Greg Foster	20	0	15.5	.389	.250	.867	2.8	.6	.2	.4	4.2
Jeff Hornacek	20	20	35.2	.433	.358	.876	4.5	3.7	1.1	.2	14.6
Stephen Howard	5	0	2.6	.500		.750	.2	.0	.2	.0	1.8
Adam Keefe	8	0	7.4	.333		.667	2.0	.3	.3	.1	1.0
Karl Malone	20	20	40.8	.435	.500	.720	11.4	2.9	1.4	.8	26.0
Chris Morris	20	0	8.8	.400	.320	.600	1.6	.3	.4	.2	2.9
Greg Ostertag	20	20	23.0	.410		.743	6.9	.3	.5	2.4	4.7
Bryon Russell	20	20	37.9	.461	.356	.721	4.6	1.4	1.1	.3	12.3
John Stockton	20	20	37.0	.521	.380	.856	3.9	9.6	1.7	.3	16.1

Player Statistics Citation:^[17]

Awards and records

Awards

• Karl Malone, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
• Karl Malone, All-NBA First Team
• John Stockton, All-NBA Third Team
• Karl Malone, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• John Stockton, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team

Subtractions Player Left New team