1997–98 Utah Jazz season explained

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Jazz's 24th season in the National Basketball Association and 19th season in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[1] The Jazz had been runner-ups in the 1997 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. In the 1997–98 season, the Jazz again reached the Finals, and were again defeated by the Bulls in six games.

During the off-season, All-Star point guard John Stockton sustained a knee injury that caused him to miss the first 18 games of the regular season.^{[2] [3]} The Jazz got off to an 11–7 start after losing three of their first four games. The team also changed their starting lineup six games into the season, replacing Bryon Russell at small forward with Adam Keefe and replacing Greg Ostertag at center with Greg Foster.^{[4] [5] [6]} The team held a 31–15 record at the All-Star break.^[7] The Jazz won 31 of their final 36 games after the All-Star break, including an 11-game winning streak between February and March. The team finished in first place in the Midwest Division with a 62–20 record, tying the Bulls for the league's best record.^[8] They also made their fifteenth consecutive trip to the playoffs.^[9]

Top scorer Karl Malone averaged 27.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and was named to the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team; he was also the only member of the team to be selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.^{[10] [11]} The Jazz offense featured two other players who averaged in double-digits in points per game: Jeff Hornacek with 14.2 points per game and Stockton with 12.0 points per game.^[12] Malone finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Michael Jordan, who won his fifth MVP award with 92 first-place votes, while Malone had 20 first-place votes,^[13] and head coach Jerry Sloan finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.^[14] Hornacek also won the Three-Point Shootout during the All-Star Weekend in New York City.^{[15] [16] [17]}

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Jazz trailed 2–1 to the 8th-seeded Houston Rockets,^[18] but managed to win the series in five games.^{[19] [20]} In the Western Conference Semifinals, they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games.^{[21] [22]} After that, the Jazz swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in four straight games to advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.^{[23] [24]} In a rematch of last year's NBA Finals, the Jazz met the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls once again prevailed over the Jazz in six games, winning their third consecutive championship and sixth overall in eight years.^{[25] [26]}

Offseason

NBA draft

See main article: article and 1997 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	27	Jacque Vaughn^[27]	PG		Kansas
2	56	Nate Erdmann			Oklahoma

The Jazz used two picks; a first-round pick on point guard Jacque Vaughn and a second round pick on Nate Erdmann. Vaughn would play with the team for four seasons before going to the Atlanta Hawks and Erdmann was cut from the team right before regular season, therefore signing with Idaho Stampede in the CBA.

Roster

Roster Notes

• Rookie point guard Troy Hudson was waived on December 28, 1997.^{[28] [29]}

Salaries

Player	Salary
Karl Malone	$5,118,578
John Stockton	$5,000,000
Jeff Hornacek	$4,195,000
Chris Morris	$3,000,000
Bryon Russell	$2,857,144
Adam Keefe	$2,300,000
Antoine Carr	$1,600,000
Howard Eisley	$1,240,000
Shandon Anderson	$1,200,000
Greg Ostertag	$647,400
Jacque Vaughn	$601,320
Greg Foster	$504,000
Troy Hudson	$242,000
Total	$28,505,442

^[30]

Regular season

Season standings

^[31]

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
width=100	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	—	2–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	4–0
Boston	1–2	—	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
Charlotte	0–4	2–1	—	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Chicago	3–1	3–1	3–1	—	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–1
Cleveland	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	—	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–2
Dallas	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	—	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
Detroit	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	0–2	0–2	2–2
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	—	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	0–4	3–1	1–1
Indiana	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	—	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
Miami	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	—	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–2
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
New Jersey	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	—	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–4	2–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	—	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
Orlando	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–2	2–0	1–3	0–4	—	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–4	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	3–1	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–3	—	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	—	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	—	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Toronto	0–4	0–3	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	—	0–2	1–1	0–3
Utah	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	—	4–0	0–2
Vancouver	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	—	1–1
Washington	0–4	2–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–0	2–0	1–1	—

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1 || October 31 || @ L.A. Lakers || L 87–104 || Shandon Anderson (21) || Karl Malone (14) || Howard Eisley (6) || Great Western Forum
16,234 || 0–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2 || November 1 || Denver || W 102–84 || Karl Malone (24) || Greg Ostertag (11) || Eisley, Hornacek (6) || Delta Center
19,911 || 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3 || November 3 || Washington || L 86–90 || Karl Malone (21) || Karl Malone (16) || Hornacek, Vaughn (6) || Delta Center
19,911 || 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4 || November 4 || @ Phoenix || L 84–106 || Karl Malone (22) || Malone, Ostertag (11) || Jeff Hornacek (4) || America West Arena
19,023 || 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5 || November 7 || @ Denver || W 91–89 || Karl Malone (20) || Karl Malone (11) || Howard Eisley (6) || McNichols Sports Arena
10,317 || 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6 || November 8 || @ San Antonio || L 80–87 || Karl Malone (26) || Hornacek, Malone (7) || Howard Eisley (6) || Alamodome
19,100 || 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7 || November 12 || Vancouver || W 98–90 || Karl Malone (26) || Keefe, Ostertag (9) || Howard Eisley (10) || Delta Center
19,851 || 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8 || November 14 || Seattle || W 110–104 || Hornacek, Malone (23) || Karl Malone (12) || Howard Eisley (6) || Delta Center
19,830 || 4–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9 || November 15 || @ Dallas || W 85–77 || Karl Malone (26) || Karl Malone (10) || Jeff Hornacek (10) || Reunion Arena
14,323 || 5–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 10 || November 18 || L.A. Lakers || L 92–97 || Karl Malone (26) || Karl Malone (9) || Howard Eisley (7) || Delta Center
19,911 || 5–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 11 || November 20 || @ Sacramento || L 95–97 || Karl Malone (32) || Karl Malone (9) || Howard Eisley (8) || ARCO Arena
14,648 || 5–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12 || November 22 || San Antonio || W 103–74 || Karl Malone (20) || Karl Malone (11) || Hornacek, Malone (7) || Delta Center
19,911 || 6–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13 || November 24 || Minnesota || W 133–124 (OT) || Karl Malone (33) || Foster, Malone (9) || Howard Eisley (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 7–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 14 || November 28 || Golden State || W 111–82 || Karl Malone (21) || Greg Ostertag (10) || Jacque Vaughn (8) || Delta Center
19,911 || 8–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15 || November 29 || @ L.A. Clippers || W 94–91 || Karl Malone (42) || Karl Malone (18) || Jeff Hornacek (7) || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
14,956 || 9–6|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16 || December 1 || New Jersey || W 100–95 || Karl Malone (19) || Karl Malone (14) || Howard Eisley (7) || Delta Center
19,911 || 10–6|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 17 || December 3 || Toronto || W 115–98 || Karl Malone (23) || Karl Malone (15) || Eisley, Hornacek (8) || Delta Center
19,590 || 11–6|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18 || December 5 || @ Portland || L 77–94 || Karl Malone (24) || Karl Malone (12) || Jeff Hornacek (8) || Rose Garden Arena
19,545 || 11–7|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19 || December 8 || Indiana || W 106–97 || Karl Malone (31) || Greg Ostertag (9) || John Stockton (7) || Delta Center
19,911 || 12–7|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20 || December 9 || @ Sacramento || L 101–113 || Karl Malone (34) || Karl Malone (10) || John Stockton (5) || ARCO Arena
13,624 || 12–8|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 21 || December 12 || Dallas || W 68–66 || Karl Malone (23) || Adam Keefe (11) || Malone, Stockton (4) || Delta Center
19,911 || 13–8|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 22 || December 15 || @ Washington || L 86–88 || Karl Malone (26) || Karl Malone (13) || Eisley, Malone (6) || MCI Center
18,756 || 13–9|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 23 || December 16 || @ Miami || W 103–95 || Karl Malone (29) || Antoine Carr (7) || Howard Eisley (6) || Miami Arena
15,200 || 14–9|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 24 || December 18 || @ Orlando || W 85–73 || Karl Malone (30) || Greg Ostertag (10) || Malone, Stockton (5) || Orlando Arena
17,258 || 15–9|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 25 || December 21 || @ Cleveland || L 101–106 || Karl Malone (24) || Karl Malone (13) || Hornacek, Stockton (6) || Gund Arena
19,178 || 15–10|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 26 || December 22 || @ Atlanta || W 101–99 || Karl Malone (27) || Adam Keefe (10) || John Stockton (8) || Georgia Dome
28,371 || 16–10|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 27 || December 25 || Houston || W 107–103 || John Stockton (24) || Karl Malone (10) || Jeff Hornacek (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 17–10|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28 || December 27 || Portland || L 91–102 || Karl Malone (24) || Karl Malone (11) || John Stockton (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 17–11|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29 || December 28 || @ Vancouver || W 89–88 || Karl Malone (26) || Karl Malone (13) || John Stockton (7) || General Motors Place
16,488 || 18–11|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 30 || December 30 || @ Denver || W 132–99 || Greg Ostertag (21) || Karl Malone (10) || John Stockton (9) || McNichols Sports Arena
14,230 || 19–11|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31 || January 3 || Atlanta || W 97–82 || Karl Malone (20) || Greg Ostertag (10) || John Stockton (12) || Delta Center
19,911 || 20–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 32 || January 6 || Philadelphia || W 98–95 (OT) || Hornacek, Malone (21) || Greg Ostertag (9) || John Stockton (14) || Delta Center
19,911 || 21–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 33 || January 8 || Milwaukee || W 116–109 || Karl Malone (39) || Greg Ostertag (10) || John Stockton (13) || Delta Center
19,911 || 22–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 34 || January 10 || @ Houston || W 111–84 || Karl Malone (24) || Karl Malone (9) || Anderson, Eisley (7) || The Summit
16,285 || 23–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35 || January 12 || Cleveland || W 106–99 || Jeff Hornacek (23) || Karl Malone (11) || John Stockton (12) || Delta Center
19,911 || 24–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 36 || January 16 || @ Portland || L 86–96 || Karl Malone (23) || Karl Malone (15) || John Stockton (6) || Rose Garden Arena
21,538 || 24–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 37 || January 17 || Orlando || W 107–93 || Karl Malone (32) || Keefe, Malone (9) || John Stockton (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 25–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 38 || January 19 || Detroit || W 98–89 || Karl Malone (30) || Karl Malone (15) || John Stockton (13) || Delta Center
19,911 || 26–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39 || January 21 || Golden State || W 98–85 || Karl Malone (27) || Adam Keefe (8) || John Stockton (13) || Delta Center
19,911 || 27–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 40 || January 23 || @ Indiana || L 102–106 || Karl Malone (26) || Greg Ostertag (11) || John Stockton (11) || Market Square Arena
16,670 || 27–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41 || January 25 || @ Chicago || W 101–94 || Karl Malone (35) || Karl Malone (11) || John Stockton (10) || United Center
24,361 || 28–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 42 || January 28 || Seattle || L 93–101 || Karl Malone (27) || Karl Malone (15) || John Stockton (14) || Delta Center
19,911 || 28–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43 || January 30 || Dallas || W 104–94 || Karl Malone (29) || Greg Ostertag (12) || Eisley, Stockton (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 29–14|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44 || February 1 || @ Golden State || W 115–88 || Karl Malone (20) || Karl Malone (8) || Karl Malone (9) || The Arena In Oakland
11,269 || 30–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45 || February 3 || @ L.A. Clippers || L 102–111 || Karl Malone (23) || Karl Malone (7) || John Stockton (10) || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
13,553 || 30–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 46 || February 4 || Chicago || W 101–93 || Karl Malone (30) || Karl Malone (8) || John Stockton (18) || Delta Center
19,911 || 31–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47 || February 10 || L.A. Clippers || W 106–98 || Karl Malone (29) || Karl Malone (14) || John Stockton (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 32–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 48 || February 12 || Boston || W 118–100 || Karl Malone (31) || Karl Malone (12) || Howard Eisley (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 33–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 49 || February 14 || @ Seattle || W 111–91 || Karl Malone (34) || Karl Malone (8) || John Stockton (12) || KeyArena
17,072 || 34–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50 || February 16 || Charlotte || W 96–90 || Karl Malone (23) || Adam Keefe (12) || John Stockton (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 35–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 51 || February 18 || New York || W 94–78 || Karl Malone (25) || Adam Keefe (12) || Jeff Hornacek (6) || Delta Center
19,911 || 36–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 52 || February 21 || @ San Antonio || W 79–77 || Karl Malone (24) || Karl Malone (13) || John Stockton (6) || Alamodome
26,572 || 37–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53 || February 24 || Miami || L 102–104 || Karl Malone (26) || Karl Malone (11) || John Stockton (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 37–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54 || February 26 || Phoenix || W 108–97 || Karl Malone (28) || Karl Malone (17) || Howard Eisley (10) || Delta Center
19,911 || 38–16|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55 || March 1 || @ Houston || W 106–100 || Karl Malone (21) || Karl Malone (9) || John Stockton (14) || The Summit
16,285 || 39–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 56 || March 3 || @ Toronto || W 108–93 || Shandon Anderson (26) || Karl Malone (10) || John Stockton (11) || SkyDome
16,448 || 40–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57 || March 4 || @ Boston || W 110–94 || Karl Malone (32) || Karl Malone (15) || John Stockton (9) || FleetCenter
18,624 || 41–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58 || March 6 || @ New Jersey || W 122–115 || Karl Malone (32) || Karl Malone (12) || John Stockton (9) || Continental Airlines Arena
20,049 || 42–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 59 || March 7 || @ Milwaukee || W 110–92 || Karl Malone (40) || Karl Malone (8) || John Stockton (7) || Bradley Center
18,717 || 43–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60 || March 9 || Houston || W 100–93 || Karl Malone (29) || Karl Malone (21) || Karl Malone (6) || Delta Center
19,911 || 44–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61 || March 11 || Sacramento || W 110–95 || Karl Malone (25) || Karl Malone (9) || Karl Malone (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 45–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62 || March 13 || Vancouver || W 110–101 || Karl Malone (30) || Adam Keefe (11) || John Stockton (11) || Delta Center
19,911 || 46–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 63 || March 15 || @ Detroit || W 109–98 || Karl Malone (28) || Karl Malone (9) || Eisley, Stockton (7) || The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076 || 47–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64 || March 16 || @ Minnesota || W 102–96 || Karl Malone (29) || Greg Foster (10) || three players tied (8) || Target Center
17,333 || 48–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 65 || March 18 || @ Charlotte || L 85–111 || Karl Malone (17) || Malone, Russell (9) || John Stockton (7) || Charlotte Coliseum
23,305 || 48–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 66 || March 20 || @ Philadelphia || W 91–79 || Karl Malone (23) || Karl Malone (16) || Howard Eisley (7) || CoreStates Center
20,832 || 49–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 67 || March 22 || @ New York || W 124–119 (2OT) || Karl Malone (30) || Karl Malone (14) || John Stockton (14) || Madison Square Garden
19,763 || 50–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68 || March 24 || Phoenix || W 92–73 || Karl Malone (19) || Greg Foster (15) || John Stockton (11) || Delta Center
19,911 || 51–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69 || March 27 || @ Dallas || W 99–90 || Karl Malone (33) || Karl Malone (14) || Jeff Hornacek (8) || Reunion Arena
13,763 || 52–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70 || March 28 || L.A. Lakers || W 106–91 || Karl Malone (31) || Keefe, Malone (8) || John Stockton (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 53–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 71 || March 31 || @ Seattle || L 86–88 || Karl Malone (20) || Karl Malone (10) || Jeff Hornacek (7) || KeyArena
17,072 || 53–18|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72 || April 1 || Portland || W 98–89 || Jeff Hornacek (31) || Greg Ostertag (9) || John Stockton (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 54–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 73 || April 3 || Denver || W 97–75 || Karl Malone (22) || Greg Ostertag (8) || Howard Eisley (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 55–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 74 || April 5 || @ Vancouver || W 99–93 || Karl Malone (25) || Greg Ostertag (9) || John Stockton (8) || General Motors Place
18,068 || 56–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75 || April 7 || @ Golden State || W 101–99 || Karl Malone (56) || Foster, Malone (9) || John Stockton (14) || The Arena In Oakland
14,430 || 57–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76 || April 8 || San Antonio || W 98–88 || Karl Malone (32) || Karl Malone (10) || John Stockton (9) || Delta Center
19,911 || 58–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77 || April 10 || L.A. Clippers || W 126–109 || Jeff Hornacek (23) || Greg Foster (10) || Jeff Hornacek (6) || Delta Center
19,911 || 59–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 78 || April 11 || @ Minnesota || L 103–110 || Karl Malone (37) || Karl Malone (12) || Jeff Hornacek (8) || Target Center
20,051 || 59–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 79 || April 14 || Minnesota || W 126–109 || Karl Malone (44) || Karl Malone (14) || Malone, Stockton (6) || Delta Center
19,911 || 60–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 80 || April 16 || Sacramento || W 99–86 || Karl Malone (21) || Karl Malone (8) || Jeff Hornacek (11) || Delta Center
19,911 || 61–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81 || April 17 || @ Phoenix || W 102–99 || Karl Malone (29) || Karl Malone (9) || Howard Eisley (10) || America West Arena
19,023 || 62–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82 || April 19 || @ L.A. Lakers || L 98–102 || Karl Malone (27) || Karl Malone (9) || Howard Eisley (4) || Great Western Forum
17,505 || 62–20|-

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 23| Houston| L 90–103| Karl Malone (25)| Karl Malone (11)| John Stockton (8)| Delta Center
19,911| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 25| Houston| W 105–90| Karl Malone (29)| Greg Ostertag (11)| John Stockton (10)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 29| @ Houston| L 85–89| Malone, Russell (19)| Karl Malone (14)| Stockton, Eisley (6)| Compaq Center
16,285| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 1| @ Houston| W 93–71| Karl Malone (29)| Karl Malone (13)| John Stockton (7)| Compaq Center
16,285| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 3| Houston| W 84–70| Karl Malone (31)| Karl Malone (15)| John Stockton (10)| Delta Center
19,911| 3–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| May 5| San Antonio| W 83–82| Karl Malone (25)| Karl Malone (8)| John Stockton (8)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 7| San Antonio| W 109–106| Karl Malone (22)| Karl Malone (12)| John Stockton (12)| Delta Center
19,911| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 9| @ San Antonio| L 64–86| Karl Malone (18)| Greg Ostertag (9)| Hornacek, Vaughn (3)| Alamodome
26,086| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 10| @ San Antonio| W 82–73| Karl Malone (34)| Karl Malone (12)| John Stockton (7)| Alamodome
28,587| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 12| San Antonio| W 87–77| Karl Malone (24)| Karl Malone (13)| Howard Eisley (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 4–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| May 16| L.A. Lakers| W 112–77| Karl Malone (29)| Shandon Anderson (11)| Stockton, Eisley (9)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 18| L.A. Lakers| W 99–95| Karl Malone (33)| Malone, Russell (7)| John Stockton (6)| Delta Center
19,911| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| May 22| @ L.A. Lakers| W 109–98| Karl Malone (26)| Karl Malone (10)| John Stockton (8)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 3–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 24| @ L.A. Lakers| W 96–92| Karl Malone (32)| Karl Malone (14)| John Stockton (8)| Great Western Forum
17,505| 4–0|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| June 3| Chicago| W 88–85 (OT)| John Stockton (24)| Karl Malone (14)| John Stockton (8)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| June 5| Chicago| L 88–93| Jeff Hornacek (20)| Karl Malone (12)| Eisley, Stockton (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| June 7| @ Chicago| L 54–96| Karl Malone (22)| Greg Ostertag (9)| John Stockton (7)| United Center
23,844| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| June 10| @ Chicago| L 82–86| Karl Malone (21)| Karl Malone (14)| John Stockton (13)| United Center
23,844| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| June 12| @ Chicago| W 83–81| Karl Malone (39)| Karl Malone (9)| John Stockton (12)| United Center
23,844| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| June 14| Chicago| L 86–87| Karl Malone (31)| Karl Malone (11)| Karl Malone (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 2–4|-

Player statistics

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	82	2	19.5	.538	.219	.735	2.8	1.1	.8	.2	8.3
	66	8	16.5	.465	.	.776	2.0	.7	.2	.8	5.7
	6	2	6.3	.444	.	.	1.3	.2	.3	.0	1.3
	82	18	21.0	.441	.407	.852	2.0	4.2	.7	.2	7.7
	78	49	18.5	.445	.222	.770	3.5	.7	.2	.4	5.7
	80	80	30.8	.482	.441	.885	3.4	4.4	1.4	.2	14.2
	8	0	2.9	.429	.000	.	.3	.5	.3	.0	1.5
	80	75	25.6	.540	.	.810	5.5	1.1	.7	.3	7.8
	81	81	37.4	.530	.333	.761	10.3	3.9	1.2	.9	27.0
	54	1	10.0	.411	.306	.721	2.1	.4	.5	.3	4.3
	63	23	20.4	.481	.	.479	5.9	.4	.4	2.1	4.7
	82	7	27.1	.430	.341	.766	4.0	1.2	1.1	.4	9.0
	64	64	29.0	.528	.429	.827	2.6	8.5	1.4	.2	12.0
	45	0	9.3	.361	.375	.706	.8	1.9	.2	.0	3.1

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	20	0	18.9	.515	.273	.676	3.2	1.0	.3	.1	6.7
	20	0	14.6	.456	.	.750	2.1	.6	.1	.6	4.4
	20	0	18.3	.368	.296	.923	2.0	4.1	.6	.3	5.6
	20	16	16.8	.453	.500	.600	3.4	.3	.1	.3	4.1
	20	20	31.8	.416	.467	.846	2.5	3.2	1.0	.2	10.9
	15	10	10.3	.345	.	.647	2.3	.1	.3	.1	2.1
	20	20	39.8	.471	.000	.788	10.9	3.4	1.1	1.0	26.3
	17	0	14.1	.406	.304	.700	2.8	.6	.3	.2	4.5
	19	1	17.7	.565	.	.480	4.3	.3	.4	1.9	3.4
	20	13	34.9	.469	.365	.716	4.7	1.1	1.1	.3	11.0
	20	20	29.8	.494	.346	.718	3.0	7.8	1.6	.2	11.1
	7	0	3.4	.200	.500	1.000	.4	.6	.	.	1.0

Awards and records

• Karl Malone, All-NBA First Team
• Karl Malone, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Karl Malone, NBA Leader, Free Throw Attempts (825)

See also

• 1997–98 NBA season

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1997-98 Utah Jazz. basketball-reference.com.
2. News: Hamilton . Linda . Knee Surgery Puts Stockton on Sidelines . Deseret News . October 14, 1997 . October 22, 2022.
3. Web site: John Stockton Played 82 Games 16 Times In His Career: He Missed 22 Total Games Over 2 Seasons . fadeawayworld.net. Bitar. Eddie. September 3, 2021.
4. News: Jazz 98, Grizzlies 80 . Associated Press . November 12, 1997 . July 18, 2021.
5. News: Jazz Game Day . Deseret News . November 29, 1997 . April 10, 2023.
6. News: Jorgensen . Loren . Russell Ready to Reclaim His Role as Jazz Starter . Deseret News . December 20, 1997 . October 22, 2022.
7. Web site: NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 . Basketball-Reference . July 20, 2022.
8. Web site: 1997–98 Utah Jazz Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
9. Web site: Utah Jazz . Basketball-Reference . January 21, 2022.
10. Web site: NBA History - 1998 Awards. ESPN.com. December 1, 2024.
11. Web site: 1997-1998 NBA All-Star Game Rosters. basketball.realgm.com. December 1, 2024.
12. Web site: 1997-98 Utah Jazz Roster and Stats . Basketball-Reference . October 9, 2024.
13. News: Associated Press . MVP Honors: Jordan Takes the Fifth . Deseret News . May 19, 1998 . October 10, 2024.
14. News: Jorgensen . Loren . Coach of Year - Sloan's Second to None and One . Deseret News . May 12, 1998 . October 10, 2024.
15. News: Popper . Steve . N.B.A. ALL-STAR WEEKEND: Kids Slam and Ham, but a Grown-Up Shoots for Dough; Houston Pair Win in 2Ball . The New York Times . February 8, 1998 . June 30, 2022.
16. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Jordan Under the Weather, and Stern Is Under the Gun . Los Angeles Times . February 8, 1998 . December 5, 2022.
17. News: Buckley . Tim . Hornacek to Defend 3-Point Title; Jazz Guard Won All-Star Contest in 1998 . Deseret News . January 18, 2000 . November 18, 2022.
18. News: Associated Press . NBA: PLAYOFFS; Utah Loses and Nears Elimination . The New York Times . April 30, 1998 . January 18, 2022.
19. News: Jorgensen . Loren . Hous-Done! . Deseret News . May 4, 1998 . November 25, 2022.
20. News: 1998 NBA Western Conference First Round: Rockets vs. Jazz . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
21. News: Bucher . Ric . Malone, Jazz Put Spurs Out of Their Misery . The Washington Post . May 13, 1998 . November 25, 2022.
22. News: 1998 NBA Western Conference semifinals: Spurs vs. Jazz . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
23. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Bittersweep End . Los Angeles Times . May 25, 1998 . May 30, 2022.
24. News: 1998 NBA Western Conference finals: Lakers vs. Jazz . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
25. News: Araton . Harvey . Sports of the Times; At the End, Jordan Lifts Bulls to Their Sixth N.B.A. Title . The New York Times . June 15, 1998 . January 14, 2022.
26. News: 1998 NBA Finals: Bulls vs. Jazz . Basketball-Reference . February 4, 2023.
27. Web site: NBA Draft 1997 . 2008-06-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080614224213/http://www.basket-stats.info/nba/draft/year/1997.htm . 2008-06-14 . dead .
28. News: Facer . Dirk . Blazers Dominate Jazz at Line, on Boards . Deseret News . December 28, 1997 . October 11, 2024.
29. News: Basketball; Jazz: Waived G Troy Hudson; 76ers: Placed C… . The Baltimore Sun . December 29, 1997 . October 11, 2024.
30. Web site: 1997-1998 Utah Jazz Salaries. hoopshype.com. December 1, 2024.
31. https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1998.html 1997-98 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com