The 1998-99 Utah Jazz season was marked by the NBA lockout, which shortened the regular season to 50 games. The Jazz, under the leadership of head coach Jerry Sloan, finished with a strong 37-13 record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference. The team was spearheaded by the legendary duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton. Malone, the reigning NBA MVP, continued to be a dominant force, averaging 23.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Stockton, known for his exceptional playmaking, contributed with 11.1 points and 7.5 assists per game.
Despite their impressive regular season, the Jazz faced challenges in the playoffs. In the first round, they defeated the Sacramento Kings in a grueling best-of-five series, which went to the full five games. However, their playoff run was cut short in the Western Conference Semifinals, where they faced the Portland Trail Blazers. The Jazz were eliminated in a 4-2 series defeat, marking a disappointing early exit for the squad.
The 1998-99 season highlighted the aging core of the Jazz, as both Stockton and Malone were in the twilight of their careers. While the team maintained its status as a formidable force in the West, the inability to capture an NBA Championship during this era remained a significant aspect of their legacy. The season was a testament to the Jazz’s consistent performance but also underscored the challenges of transitioning from seasoned veterans to a new era.
- Regular Season Record: 37-13
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Utah Jazz Roster and Stats for 1998-99 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Karl Malone | 49 | 23.8 | 9.4 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 11 | 21.8 | 11.3 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Bryon Russell | 50 | 12.4 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 35.4 | 11 | 12.1 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
| Jeff Hornacek | 48 | 12.2 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 42.0 | 11 | 12.2 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 38.9 |
| John Stockton | 50 | 11.1 | 2.9 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 32.0 | 11 | 11.1 | 3.3 | 8.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| Shandon Anderson | 50 | 8.5 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 34.1 | 11 | 9.5 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 42.9 |
| Howard Eisley | 50 | 7.4 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 42.0 | 11 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| Greg Ostertag | 48 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 11 | 4.0 | 5.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Thurl Bailey | 43 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 11 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Adam Keefe | 44 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Todd Fuller | 42 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Greg Foster | 42 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jacque Vaughn | 19 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Anthony Avent | 5 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris King | 8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Utah Jazz in the 1999 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Sacramento Kings
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Sacramento Kings in the first round, triumphing in a tightly contested best-of-five series. The Jazz, led by the veteran duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, capitalized on their playoff experience to edge out the Kings 3-2. Their decisive Game 5 victory showcased Malone's scoring prowess and Stockton's playmaking, allowing Utah to advance to the next round.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 08, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 117-87 | |
| May 10, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 101-90 | |
| May 12, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 84-81 | |
| May 14, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 90-89 | |
| May 16, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 99-92 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite their strong regular season performance and the veteran leadership of Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Jazz were eliminated by the Blazers in a hard-fought series that ended 4-2. This series marked a turning point, as the Jazz were unable to make another deep playoff run with their legendary duo in the years that followed.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 93-83 | |
| May 20, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 84-81 | |
| May 22, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-87 | |
| May 23, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 81-75 | |
| May 25, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 88-71 | |
| May 27, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 92-80 |
Utah Jazz 1998-99 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1998-99 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 05, 1999 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 104-96 | |
| Feb 07, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 100-91 | |
| Feb 09, 1999 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 90-79 | |
| Feb 11, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 82-74 | |
| Feb 12, 1999 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 97-81 | |
| Feb 15, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 120-112 | |
| Feb 16, 1999 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 71-56 | |
| Feb 18, 1999 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 97-86 | |
| Feb 20, 1999 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-80 | |
| Feb 22, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 104-89 | |
| Feb 24, 1999 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 97-87 | |
| Feb 26, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 80-65 | |
| Feb 28, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 101-87 | |
| Mar 02, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-100 | |
| Mar 03, 1999 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 109-86 | |
| Mar 05, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-95 | |
| Mar 07, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-89 | |
| Mar 09, 1999 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 88-75 | |
| Mar 11, 1999 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 94-89 | |
| Mar 12, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 91-77 | |
| Mar 13, 1999 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 99-72 | |
| Mar 15, 1999 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 90-83 | |
| Mar 18, 1999 | @ Washington Wizards | W 95-87 | |
| Mar 19, 1999 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 83-82 | |
| Mar 21, 1999 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-101 | |
| Mar 23, 1999 | vs. Miami Heat | W 84-81 | |
| Mar 26, 1999 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 85-80 | |
| Mar 27, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 103-77 | |
| Mar 30, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 104-101 | |
| Apr 01, 1999 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 88-87 | |
| Apr 02, 1999 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 92-85 | |
| Apr 06, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-93 | |
| Apr 08, 1999 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 92-85 | |
| Apr 09, 1999 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 93-92 | |
| Apr 11, 1999 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 85-76 | |
| Apr 12, 1999 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 98-80 | |
| Apr 13, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 105-100 | |
| Apr 15, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 103-89 | |
| Apr 17, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 109-93 | |
| Apr 18, 1999 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 97-76 | |
| Apr 20, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 83-69 | |
| Apr 21, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 91-82 | |
| Apr 23, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 96-85 | |
| Apr 25, 1999 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-81 | |
| Apr 26, 1999 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 99-85 | |
| Apr 27, 1999 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 90-85 | |
| Apr 29, 1999 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 96-85 | |
| Apr 30, 1999 | @ Houston Rockets | W 91-78 | |
| May 02, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 84-78 | |
| May 04, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-82 |