The 1995-96 Utah Jazz season marked a solid performance in the NBA, highlighted by their consistent play and strong team dynamics. The Jazz finished the regular season with a 55-27 record, securing second place in the Midwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference. This season was a testament to the enduring excellence of their star duo, John Stockton and Karl Malone, who once again led the team in key statistical categories.
Karl Malone had an outstanding year, averaging 25.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, while John Stockton excelled with 14.7 points and 11.2 assists per game. Their synergy on the court was instrumental in the Jazz’s success, and both players were selected as All-Stars, underscoring their status as elite performers in the league. Jeff Hornacek also provided valuable scoring support, averaging 15.2 points per game.
In the playoffs, the Jazz advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 3-2 in a tightly contested first-round series. However, their postseason run ended in the semifinals against the Seattle SuperSonics, who bested them 4-3 in a hard-fought seven-game series. Despite the playoff exit, the 1995-96 season was a stepping stone for the Jazz as they continued to build towards future success, eventually reaching the NBA Finals in the subsequent two seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Western Conference Finals: 3-4
Utah Jazz Roster and Stats for 1995-96 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Karl Malone | 82 | 25.7 | 9.8 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 40.0 | 18 | 26.5 | 10.3 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Hornacek | 82 | 15.2 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 46.6 | 18 | 17.5 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 58.6 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 14.7 | 2.8 | 11.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 42.2 | 18 | 11.1 | 3.2 | 10.8 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 28.9 |
| Chris Morris | 66 | 10.5 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 32.0 | 18 | 6.2 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 27.0 |
| David Benoit | 81 | 8.2 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 33.3 | 14 | 6.2 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50.0 |
| Antoine Carr | 80 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 18 | 6.1 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Adam Keefe | 82 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 17 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50.0 |
| Felton Spencer | 71 | 5.6 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 18 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Howard Eisley | 65 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 22.6 | 18 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| Greg Foster | 73 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 12.5 | 12 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Greg Ostertag | 57 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 15 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Jamie Watson | 16 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bryon Russell | 59 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 35.0 | 18 | 9.6 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 47.2 |
| Andy Toolson | 13 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Utah Jazz in the 1996 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the first round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Portland Trail Blazers and emerged victorious in a tightly contested series. The Jazz, led by the formidable duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, showcased their resilience and skill, ultimately clinching the series 3-2. Their performance set the stage for a deep playoff run, demonstrating their ability to thrive under pressure.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-102 | |
| Apr 27, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-90 | |
| Apr 29, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 94-91 | |
| May 01, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-90 | |
| May 05, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-64 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz showcased their tenacity by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. Led by the dynamic duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Jazz won the series 4-2, demonstrating their tactical prowess and teamwork. Their performance in this round set the stage for a competitive Western Conference Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 07, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 95-75 | |
| May 09, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 88-77 | |
| May 11, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 105-75 | |
| May 12, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 101-86 | |
| May 14, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 98-87 | |
| May 16, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 108-81 |
1996 Conference Championship vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz made a strong run to the Western Conference Finals, showcasing the dynamic duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton. Despite their impressive performance throughout the playoffs, the Jazz were ultimately defeated by the Seattle SuperSonics in a tough seven-game series, falling just short of reaching the NBA Finals. This series highlighted the Jazz's resilience and set the stage for their future successes in the late 1990s.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-72 | |
| May 20, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 91-87 | |
| May 24, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 96-76 | |
| May 26, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 88-86 | |
| May 28, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-95 | |
| May 30, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 118-83 | |
| Jun 02, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 90-86 |
Utah Jazz 1995-96 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1995-96 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1995 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-94 | |
| Nov 05, 1995 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-105 | |
| Nov 06, 1995 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 105-96 | |
| Nov 08, 1995 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-98 | |
| Nov 10, 1995 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 109-86 | |
| Nov 12, 1995 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-110 | |
| Nov 13, 1995 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 103-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1995 | @ Boston Celtics | W 102-90 | |
| Nov 17, 1995 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 86-81 | |
| Nov 18, 1995 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 126-102 | |
| Nov 20, 1995 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-79 | |
| Nov 22, 1995 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 116-95 | |
| Nov 24, 1995 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 90-85 | |
| Nov 25, 1995 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 94-91 | |
| Nov 27, 1995 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 114-105 | |
| Nov 30, 1995 | @ Houston Rockets | W 112-105 | |
| Dec 05, 1995 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 103-100 | |
| Dec 07, 1995 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 124-119 | |
| Dec 09, 1995 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-109 | |
| Dec 11, 1995 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 110-100 | |
| Dec 15, 1995 | @ Orlando Magic | L 111-99 | |
| Dec 16, 1995 | @ Miami Heat | W 83-74 | |
| Dec 18, 1995 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-103 | |
| Dec 20, 1995 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-104 | |
| Dec 21, 1995 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 89-87 | |
| Dec 23, 1995 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-86 | |
| Dec 26, 1995 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-104 | |
| Dec 28, 1995 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 99-83 | |
| Dec 30, 1995 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-82 | |
| Jan 02, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 102-92 | |
| Jan 03, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-97 | |
| Jan 05, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-100 | |
| Jan 08, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | W 94-92 | |
| Jan 12, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 101-94 | |
| Jan 15, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 107-99 | |
| Jan 19, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 111-99 | |
| Jan 20, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-82 | |
| Jan 23, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 96-72 | |
| Jan 24, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 100-89 | |
| Jan 26, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 94-93 | |
| Jan 27, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 108-91 | |
| Jan 29, 1996 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-97 | |
| Jan 31, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-94 | |
| Feb 02, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 122-113 | |
| Feb 04, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 05, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 92-83 | |
| Feb 07, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 102-79 | |
| Feb 08, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 136-133 | |
| Feb 13, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 114-111 | |
| Feb 15, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-98 | |
| Feb 22, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 102-86 | |
| Feb 24, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 99-90 | |
| Feb 26, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 110-87 | |
| Feb 28, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 115-93 | |
| Mar 01, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | W 99-88 | |
| Mar 05, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 112-97 | |
| Mar 06, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 101-94 | |
| Mar 08, 1996 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-89 | |
| Mar 10, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 104-96 | |
| Mar 12, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-89 | |
| Mar 13, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 91-85 | |
| Mar 15, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 95-86 | |
| Mar 16, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-115 | |
| Mar 18, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-90 | |
| Mar 20, 1996 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-84 | |
| Mar 22, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 88-75 | |
| Mar 25, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 103-86 | |
| Mar 27, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 98-82 | |
| Mar 29, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 105-91 | |
| Mar 30, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-98 | |
| Apr 02, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-91 | |
| Apr 04, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 107-100 | |
| Apr 05, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 103-99 | |
| Apr 07, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 107-92 | |
| Apr 08, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-91 | |
| Apr 10, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-79 | |
| Apr 13, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 91-81 | |
| Apr 14, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 93-82 | |
| Apr 16, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-85 | |
| Apr 18, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 94-79 | |
| Apr 20, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-92 |