NBA Teams Getting Hot at the Perfect Time

Mar 1, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker (15) celebrates with guard Courtney Lee (1) after a score in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Suns 126-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 17, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) and forward Derrick Favors (15) wait for center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Trey Lyles (41) during a timeout at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 103-69. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Utah Jazz

Record: 33-35

Last 10: 5-5

Key Statistic: No. 10 in Defensive Efficiency

Current Streak: 4-0

The Utah Jazz were a trendy pick to make the playoffs entering the 2015-16 NBA season. Injuries to key players, including Rudy Gobert and the two starting point guards, Trey Burke and Dante Exum, damaged Utah’s chances of doing so.

With Shelvin Mack playing at the highest level of his NBA career, however, Utah appears to have enough firework to live up to the postseason hype.

Utah is currently on a four-game winning streak. That may not seem like much, but those victories include a 94-85 home win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a 114-93 decimation of the Washington Wizards.

On the strength of this late push, the Jazz have pulled to within 0.5 game of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

As Utah is getting hot, the No. 8 seed Dallas Mavericks are going cold. Dallas has lost seven of its past eight outings, and the Jazz have capitalized on this opportunity by gaining ground on the Mavericks and making a postseason appearance entirely possible.

Dallas will play Utah in game No. 81 and the San Antonio Spurs in game No. 82, which means the Jazz have a legitimate opportunity to make the the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

Next: The Late Push, Part II