The 1985-86 Utah Jazz season was a pivotal year for the franchise as they continued to build on their progress in the Western Conference. Under the guidance of head coach Frank Layden, the Jazz finished the regular season with a record of 42 wins and 40 losses, securing the fourth spot in the Midwest Division. This performance marked a slight improvement over their previous season and illustrated their growing competitiveness in the league.
One of the standout performers for the Jazz was Adrian Dantley, who continued to showcase his scoring ability. Dantley averaged 29.8 points per game, placing him among the top scorers in the NBA. Supporting him was young guard John Stockton, who was beginning to establish himself as a key playmaker, although he was still coming off the bench behind Rickey Green. Karl Malone, in his rookie season, also started to show signs of his future dominance, averaging 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
In the postseason, the Jazz faced the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. Despite a valiant effort, Utah was defeated in a hard-fought five-game series, losing 3-2. This playoff appearance was crucial for the team’s development, laying the groundwork for future successes. The 1985-86 season demonstrated the Jazz’s potential, setting the stage for their emergence as a formidable team in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-3
Utah Jazz Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Adrian Dantley | 76 | 29.8 | 5.2 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 9.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Karl Malone | 81 | 14.9 | 8.9 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 21.8 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Thurl Bailey | 82 | 14.6 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 16.0 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Rickey Green | 80 | 11.6 | 1.7 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 17.2 | 4 | 13.3 | 2.3 | 9.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Bob Hansen | 82 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 34.0 | 4 | 16.0 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 66.7 |
| Mark Eaton | 80 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 4.6 | 0.0 | 4 | 14.5 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 7.4 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 13.3 | 4 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Carey Scurry | 78 | 4.7 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 9.1 | 4 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Wilkins | 48 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pace Mannion | 57 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 19.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Marc Iavaroni | 26 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Roberts | 58 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 49.9 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Cook | 2 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Hayes | 58 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Utah Jazz in the 1986 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Dallas Mavericks
In the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced off against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite a valiant effort, the Jazz were eliminated by the Mavericks in a closely contested five-game series. Led by Adrian Dantley's scoring prowess, Utah pushed Dallas to the brink but ultimately fell short, highlighting the team's need for more depth and playoff experience.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 101-93 | |
| Apr 20, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-106 | |
| Apr 23, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 100-98 | |
| Apr 25, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 117-113 |
Utah Jazz 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 112-108 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 124-112 | |
| Oct 30, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 102-100 | |
| Nov 01, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 121-110 | |
| Nov 02, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 128-108 | |
| Nov 05, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-99 | |
| Nov 07, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-106 | |
| Nov 09, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-114 | |
| Nov 12, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-110 | |
| Nov 13, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 115-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 133-118 | |
| Nov 16, 1985 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 100-96 | |
| Nov 20, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-106 | |
| Nov 22, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-113 | |
| Nov 23, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 116-106 | |
| Nov 25, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-101 | |
| Nov 27, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-96 | |
| Nov 29, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 129-114 | |
| Nov 30, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 89-88 | |
| Dec 02, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 103-100 | |
| Dec 04, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 131-127 | |
| Dec 06, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-92 | |
| Dec 07, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 131-91 | |
| Dec 10, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 134-105 | |
| Dec 11, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-111 | |
| Dec 14, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 114-100 | |
| Dec 17, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 106-98 | |
| Dec 18, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-98 | |
| Dec 20, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 21, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 117-104 | |
| Dec 26, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-99 | |
| Dec 28, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-108 | |
| Dec 30, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-105 | |
| Jan 03, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-101 | |
| Jan 04, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 119-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 91-84 | |
| Jan 09, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 95-89 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-106 | |
| Jan 12, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 106-102 | |
| Jan 14, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | W 105-102 | |
| Jan 15, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 150-104 | |
| Jan 17, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 139-112 | |
| Jan 18, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 131-97 | |
| Jan 21, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 117-114 | |
| Jan 23, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 106-105 | |
| Jan 25, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 130-90 | |
| Jan 27, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-103 | |
| Jan 29, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-86 | |
| Jan 31, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 02, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 100-97 | |
| Feb 03, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 112-104 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-101 | |
| Feb 11, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-92 | |
| Feb 13, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-106 | |
| Feb 15, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 104-97 | |
| Feb 17, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-105 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 105-97 | |
| Feb 25, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 100-97 | |
| Feb 27, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 109-92 | |
| Mar 01, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-94 | |
| Mar 04, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 94-92 | |
| Mar 05, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 130-84 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 105-103 | |
| Mar 08, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-90 | |
| Mar 12, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 118-111 | |
| Mar 14, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 146-121 | |
| Mar 15, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 108-98 | |
| Mar 17, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 107-106 | |
| Mar 18, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 20, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 114-107 | |
| Mar 22, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 119-109 | |
| Mar 24, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-108 | |
| Mar 26, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 116-101 | |
| Mar 28, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 128-120 | |
| Mar 29, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 110-102 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 113-109 | |
| Apr 02, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 97-94 | |
| Apr 05, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-103 | |
| Apr 09, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 113-108 | |
| Apr 10, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 119-108 | |
| Apr 12, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 117-99 |