Utah Jazz report card: Kanter goes big as Jazz drop Bobcats

SALT LAKE CITY — The Jazz badly needed a win after accumulating a three-game losing streak and a road-heavy schedule looming. Without Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap in the lineup, the task looked to be difficult even against the lowly Charlotte Bobcats. The youth of the Jazz gave an impressive performance as Enes Kanter led the way with 23 points and 22 rebounds to propel the Jazz over the Bobcats, 98-68.

Guards: Earl Watson started his third consecutive game and finished with very little on the stat sheet in his 12 minutes of play. Randy Foye surpassed the franchise record of most 3-point field goals made to go with his nine-point night.

GRADE: B+

Forwards: Derrick Favors got his second consecutive start in the absence of Millsap and had another solid outing. It was not as outstanding as his performance against Atlanta, which was mostly due to foul trouble. Favors finished with eight points and seven rebounds in his 21 minutes. Marvin Williams showed his ever-inconsistent nature as he finished with one point, four rebounds and three assists.

GRADE: C+

Centers: No Al Jefferson meant the second career start for Kanter, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. Despite playing against arguably the worst team in the NBA, Kanter dominated both ends of the floor, and his 23 points came on a very efficient 10-of-12 from the field. Kanter's 22 rebounds included five on the offensive glass. Kanter showed an array of post moves and looked very confident all night.

GRADE: A+

Bench: The bench came through in a big way for the Jazz as it scored 57 of Utah's 98 points. DeMarre Carroll, who played with a tender knee, led the way with 19 points in 20 minutes. Jeremy Evans nearly reached a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Gordon Hayward finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists. Alec Burks played the most time at point guard and finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Despite not scoring, Jamaal Tinsley led the way in assists with five.

GRADE: A+

Overall: Given the situation of the Bobcats, the Jazz were expected to win and needed a win to stop the losing streak. Fans got what they wanted with a glimpse of what the future might hold, and the future looked positive overall. Kanter responded well to his playing time, and who knows how Favors may have performed had he stayed out of foul trouble. The Jazz played solid defense and Charlotte shot at a low clip. It was an overall great performance considering the circumstances.

GRADE: A

Tyler Huskinson is a freelance journalist who loves to cover sports. You can reach him at ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu or follow him on twitter @TDHuskiSports.