The Pelicans have found recent momentum and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Regardless, the Jazz once again have Keyonte George on the official injury list, as he is listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain.

George last played for Utah in the loss against the Orlando Magic and is on the injury list alongside a host of players, including Lauri Markkanen, who is out due to right hip
impingement. The likes of Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic, and Vince Williams Jr. are also out due to various injuries.

For the Pelicans, Yves Missi is listed as questionable, while Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Trey Alexander, and Hunter Dickinson are officially out.

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Keyonte George injury status vs. Pelicans

George will once again be a game-time decision but his questionable status suggests he may as well play a part. Considering their recent form and their record of 18-41, they need their guard to be fit as soon as possible.

This should be another high-paced matchup akin to Thursday night when the Pelicans dispatched the Jazz in Salt Lake City. While both teams are currently languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference, New Orleans (18-42) will be hoping to notch up another win.

The Pelicans have won four of their last six contests and if George is unable to play, Utah will once again have to rely on a scrappy second unit that kept them afloat. The Jazz bench produced 61 points on Thursday, highlighted by Ace Bailey’s 23 points and Brice Sensabaugh’s 20.

However, Utah’s biggest hurdle remains their porous defense. The Jazz are currently surrendering 125.9 points per game and will need to be better than recent weeks in order to have a chance.

Jazz injury report

Keyonte George: Questionable (Right Ankle Sprain)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (Left Knee Injury Recovery)

Walker Kessler: Out (Left Shoulder Injury Recovery)

Lauri Markkanen: Out (Right Hip Impingement)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (Nose Injury Recovery)

Vince Williams Jr.: Out (Left Knee Injury Management)

Pelicans injury report

Yves Missi: Questionable (Left Calf Strain)

Trey Alexander: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Trey Murphy III: Out (Right Shoulder Contusion)

Dejounte Murray: Out (Return to Competition Reconditioning)

The post Is Keyonte George playing tonight? Jazz vs. Pelicans injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The NBA fined the Jazz earlier in February for “conduct detrimental to the league” after the team benched both Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entire fourth quarter in what turned out to be a 115-111 win versus the Miami Heat. Many people believe Utah will inevitably shut down its top player, and the league is also leery of the franchise’s motives. Though, there is likely little that commissioner Adam Silver can do following the MRI results.

The NBA opted not to send an independent doctor to examine Markkanen, but it is keeping a close eye on the situation. It will be interesting to see how Silver and company respond to Thursday’s news. The Jazz are 18-40 and currently own the sixth-worst record in the league. Their 2026 first-round draft pick will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder if they fall outside the top-eight in the lottery, so the team has all the incentive in the world to keep losing.

However, the NBA is taking a firmer stance against tanking and may not make it easy for Utah to strengthen its draft positioning. The Jazz are hardly the only squad to engage in such practices this season, but they attracted unwanted attention from the league offices.

For now, there does not appear to be any uncertainty surrounding Lauri Markkanen’s status. He will miss the next several games, and then management will check back on his condition.

The post New Lauri Markkanen timeline emerges after hip injury MRI appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tony Jones of The Athletic had originally reported that the league is “sending independent doctors to verify.” He would take to X, formerly Twitter, to say that won’t happen, but the NBA will monitor the results, though that is “standard practice.”

“Lauri Markkanen is undergoing his MRI, I’m told, so the Jazz should have results coming. The NBA is evaluating the results, as standard practice. They did not send medical personnel to Utah. That part I got wrong. My apologies,” Jones wrote on Thursday afternoon.

Utah is one of several teams that have been accused of tanking, with even the franchise being fined $500,000, due to what the NBA said was “management of their rosters for recent games.” That included the Jazz sitting key players like Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic in the fourth quarter when the games were close.

Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen is awaiting MRI results 

After some time, it would be revealed that Jackson and Nurkic would be out for the season with a knee and nose injury, respectively. Markkanen will get an MRI about the severity of a right ankle and right hip injury, according to Kevin Renolds of The Salt Lake Tribune.

“Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen could miss some time after suffering an injury in practice on Wednesday,” Reynolds wrote on Wednesday. “Markkanen will be evaluated for a right ankle and right hip injury, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The 7-footer will get an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.”

Markkanen is averaging a team-high and a career-best 26.7 points to go along with 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range. It remains to be seen what the MRI results say about Markkanen.

The post NBA monitoring Lauri Markkanen’s Jazz MRI, but there’s a catch appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Thursday, they continued those efforts by signing a former lottery pick.

“7-footer Mo Bamba is signing a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports and Greer Love tell ESPN. Bamba spent time earlier this season with the Raptors and has averaged 17 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Jazz’s NBA G League affiliate,” reported ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania on X, formerly Twitter.

Bamba was drafted at number 6 overall by the Orlando Magic back in 2018 out of Texas. Although he hasn’t quite lived up to his billing as a lottery-level big man, Bamba has found a way to stay in the league for the better part of a decade, still using his size, athleticism, and improved shooting touch to make himself useful to multiple teams over the course of his career.

While he’s only on a ten-day deal for now, Bamba figures to have plenty of chances to carve out a more long-term role in Utah over the coming few games, with Markkanen likely to miss time, and trade acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. already having been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The signing comes as most Jazz fans have already turned their attention to the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, which is expected to be loaded with potential star talent. Last year, Utah drafted Ace Bailey, who has had a mixed bag of a rookie season thus far, and is hoping to add another blue-chip prospect to the mix in June.

The post Jazz sign former lottery pick amid Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. injuries appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Missi is recovering from a left calf strain. The Jazz, meanwhile, have several injury concerns of their own with Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George both questionable as they recover from injuries, per the official injury list.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Jusuf Nurkic and Vince Williams Jr. are all confirmed to be out for Utah as well.

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Trey Murphy III injury status vs. Jazz

Trey Murphy III is a confirmed out for this game with the Jazz also sweating over the availability of their star men in the form of Markkanen and George. The Pelicans (17-42) have begun to turn the tide lately, winning two in a row and five of their last 10 games.

On the other side, the Jazz (18-40) are desperately trying to snap a three-game losing skid after struggling defensively in a recent 125-105 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets. The Jazz are currently fielding a depleted frontcourt, missing Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic.

The Pelicans won all three meetings between these two teams last season, and they will look to get the upper hand in what is a back-to-back against the same team.

Pelicans injury report

Trey Alexander: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Yves Missi: Out (Left Calf; Strain)

Trey Murphy III: Out (Right Shoulder; Contusion)

Jazz injury report

Keyonte George: Questionable (Right Ankle; Sprain)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (Left Knee; Injury recovery)

Walker Kessler: Out (Left Shoulder; Injury recovery)

Lauri Markkanen: Questionable (Right Ankle; Sprain / Right hip impingement)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (Nose; Injury recovery)

Vince Williams Jr.: Out (Left Knee; Injury management)

The post Is Trey Murphy III playing tonight? Pelicans vs. Jazz injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Utah once again has several injury concerns. Markkanen is dealing with a right ankle sprain and right hip impingement after getting hurt in practice, joining the official injury list as questionable alongside Keyonte George.

The likes of Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are all out. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are better-placed injury-wise. Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi join Hunter Dickinson and Trey Alexander, who are both off on G League assignments.

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Lauri Markkanen injury status vs. Pelicans

Lauri Markkanen remains a game-time decision despite starring with 29 points against the Rockets. The Jazz (18-40) are reeling, looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Pelicans (17-42) have started to find a rhythm, winning two in a row and five of their last 10 games.

Markkanen has been nothing short of spectacular when healthy. The Finnish star is averaging an elite 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on the season. The offensive burden falls to George in his absence with both players dealing with injuries. He is going at 23.8 points and 6.5 assists per night.

The Jazz lost all three meetings to New Orleans last season, and may need their best player on the floor to avoid a similar fate in this first matchup of the current campaign.

Jazz injury report

Keyonte George: Questionable (Right Ankle; Sprain)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (Left Knee; Injury recovery)

Walker Kessler: Out (Left Shoulder; Injury recovery)

Lauri Markkanen: Questionable (Right Ankle; Sprain / Right hip impingement)

Jusuf Nurkic: Out (Nose; Injury recovery)

Vince Williams Jr.: Out (Left Knee; Injury management)

Pelicans injury report

Trey Alexander: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Hunter Dickinson: Out (G League – Two-Way)

Yves Missi: Out (Left Calf; Strain)

Trey Murphy III: Out (Right Shoulder; Contusion)

The post Lauri Markkanen’s official injury status vs. Pelicans after getting hurt in Jazz practice appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jackson, eventually, would undergo season-ending surgery to remove a growth in his left knee, and now, Markkanen reportedly suffered an injury in practice, which could force him to miss even more time — perhaps even the rest of the Jazz’s season.

Rumor has it that the NBA isn’t very pleased with the timing of Markkanen’s injury and the circumstances surrounding this alleged knock that the Finnish star sustained in practice. As per Tony Jones of The Athletic, he is “hearing” that “the league is sending independent doctors to verify” whether or not the injury the Jazz star sustained is legitimate.

Considering the Jazz’s track record on the injury front over the past few seasons, the NBA being this vigilant should not come as a surprise to anyone. Even then, the Jazz would contend that these decisions of theirs only come as a result of a system that promotes these kinds of shenanigans in the first place.

Jazz’s hands are tied in the final year of blatant tank job

No fan could argue that the Jazz aren’t blatantly tanking. They would owe their first-round pick this year to the Oklahoma City Thunder if their pick lands outside the top-eight, and while that wouldn’t be the most devastating thing in the world, they would much rather keep that asset and see if the player they draft becomes a long-term keeper instead of witnessing the rich get richer.

Even then, the Jazz are only playing the game; as the old adage goes, don’t hate the player, hate the game. It’s clear that the NBA has to institute a few changes to discourage this level of tanking shenanigans, but as long as these haven’t been legislated out of the game yet, the Jazz shouldn’t have to suffer to this degree.

The post Jazz rumors: NBA sending doctor to ‘verify’ Lauri Markkanen’s new injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen could miss some time after suffering an injury in practice on Wednesday,” reported Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Markannen is being evaluated for right ankle and hip injuries, and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the ailments.

The news comes amid accusations of the Jazz intentionally trying to lose games in order to secure a higher pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which is projected by many to be loaded with high-end talent. Recently, the NBA issued a hefty fine against Utah’s ownership for their blatant tanking efforts, and some fans may be skeptical about this latest injury update regarding Markkanen, considering Utah’s history.

This season, Markkanen is averaging nearly 27 points per game and is a part of the Jazz’s vision for the long term, as they hope to pair him and Jackson Jr. with another blue-chip prospect in the upcoming draft.

In any case, the Jazz are next slated to take the floor on Thursday evening against the New Orleans Pelicans at home. Tipoff is set for 9:00 pm ET from the Delta Center.

The post Lauri Markkanen practice injuries send Jazz’s tank job into overdrive appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The injury occurred on Monday night, with the Jazz on the road to face the Houston Rockets. With about nine minutes left in the second quarter, Williams was running side-by-side with Tari Eason after Utah turned the ball over. In transition, Eason appeared to intentionally bump Williams to get better positioning for a 2-on-1 opportunity.

It was then that Williams’ right knee buckled underneath him and hyperextended inwards. He immediately fell to the ground, grabbing his right knee in front of the Jazz bench. Will Hardy was furious with the officials for not making a call, as Eason’s physicality with Williams on the play could have easily been deemed an offensive foul.

Williams, who was in obvious pain, did not put any weight on his leg as Jazz staff members carried him into the locker room.

After the game, Eason went out of his way to go to the Jazz locker room and check on Williams, stating that he has a lot of “respect” for him and didn’t “intend” to injure him, according to the Deseret News. Eason apologized for the unfortunate injury and made it clear he had no intentions of trying to hurt Williams on the play.

“Doesn’t look great,” Hardy briefly said in his postgame comments. “That’s not basketball.”

Williams was traded to the Jazz on Feb. 3 in the eight-player deal with the Memphis Grizzlies that also sent All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. to Salt Lake City. Jackson was recently shut down by the Jazz and could miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season after undergoing surgery to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee.

In six games with the Jazz, Williams averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in roughly 14.0 minutes per game. This season, he has shot 35.3 percent from the floor and 31.1 percent from 3-point range with Memphis and Utah.

The post Jazz forward Vince Williams Jr. to undergo season-ending ACL surgery appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Jazz, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference with one of the league’s worst records, are leaning into the realities of a rebuild. Wins are scarce. Minutes for the young core are plentiful. They need to find out who has the capacity to seize control, rather than simply follow orders.

“With all of our young players, we are encouraging them to be free thinkers about their own career, about their own development,” Hardy explained. “It’s about who they want to be as people, where they want to end up as players, because I think in today’s world, we have so many individual trainers. We have strength coaches, and staffs have gotten bigger.”

The alternative, Hardy warned, is a dangerous passivity.

“So it can be easy for players,” admitted Hardy, “if they’d like, to check their phone, see the schedule that’s laid out for them. They come to the facility and get what they should have for breakfast. We say here’s the vitamins you should take. They go into the weight room, and it’s two sets of something with eight reps of each. We got on the court and tell them where to shoot. They can go all day without making a decision for themselves.”

That hands-off existence, Hardy believes, carries long-term risk. One day, the structure vanishes. Free agency arrives, a trade means joining a new team, or life after basketball has to be considered. Players discover they never learned how to steer their own ship.

“That can be a slippery slope,” Hardy noted, “because there will be a day they realize they have no control over what they’re doing.”

Hardy was careful not to prescribe a single solution. Agency, he acknowledged, is not something every young player is immediately ready to embrace.

“I think it’s a case-by-case basis, but it’s one we have to encourage all of our athletes to think about,” Hardy shared. “As you get further along in your process, some guys may feel taking that agency. Certain people may not want to take that agency because they are not sure what to do with it.”

In a season defined by tanking allegations (the Jazz were fined $500,000 by the NBA earlier this month for resting healthy players in ways the league deemed detrimental), Hardy’s approach doubles as both practical and philosophical. With little to lose in the standings, the franchise can afford to let players experiment, fail, and adjust on their own terms. The goal is not to manufacture more losses but to manufacture more self-reliant pros who will thrive when the franchise eventually contends again.

Whether every player embraces the freedom remains to be seen. Hardy acknowledged that some will crave the comfort of a printed schedule. However, in a rebuild where the future far outweighs the present, the Jazz are betting that the ones who do step up and decide for themselves will be the ones who matter most when the tank finally ends.

The post Jazz’s Will Hardy reveals biggest piece of advice to young core amid tanked season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“BREAKING: Utah Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkić will undergo a surgical procedure on his nose Wednesday that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, league sources tell me,” Haynes wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Nurkic has missed the past few games because of the injury, and now he’ll be sidelined for the season. The Jazz just announced over a week ago that Jaren Jackson Jr. would miss the rest of the season as he underwent surgery on his left knee to ensure his long-term health.

The Jazz have been one of the topics of discussion over the past month due to tanking allegations, and the recent news of Nurkic probably doesn’t make those claims any better. The Jazz were fined earlier in the month for sitting Jackson and Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter of one of their games, but head coach Will Hardy noted that they were on minutes restrictions.

The league must have thought differently, as they’re trying to come down on teams throwing games on purpose for better draft positioning in the future.

There was a recent memo sent to all 30 general managers NBA plans to make anti-tanking rule changes for next season, which included that first-round picks can be protected only top-4 or top-14+, lottery odds freeze at the trade deadline or a later date, and other scenarios.

The Jazz are currently 18-39 and 13th in the Western Conference standings, and with the recent injuries, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them continue to slide as the season continues. That would help them have better odds at a top pick, which could help them build their team with more exceptional talent.

The post Jazz’s Jusuf Nurkić undergoes season-ending nose surgery appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It all begins with the soundtrack. About an hour before tipoff against the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams sat in the visiting locker room, headphones on, cueing up stuff to match the Gospel Night theme. It’s what felt right for the night. That part of the ritual, it turns out, is never quite the same twice.

“I can’t do the same thing before every game,” Williams told ClutchPoints. “I’ve got to switch it up.”

However, unlike his new teammate Jaren Jackson Jr., who once served as the designated locker room DJ on Beale Street, Williams isn’t about to command the team’s AUX cord. Even suggestions are jokingly being kept to a minimum until Jackson Jr. returns from knee surgery.

“I don’t have anything for (Jaren Jackson Jr.) right now,” confessed Williams. “I don’t have the clout to run the music, so I just sit here and listen to it. Mostly have my headphones on before the game, really.”

What plays through those headphones depends entirely on the moment.

“It depends on the mood,” Williams shrugged. “Before certain games, I’ll throw on some R&B and chill, some old school Anthony Hamilton, some gospel like Kirk Franklin. It really does depend on the mood and what kind of day it is. Like, however I’m feeling before that game, that’s what I’ll play. Sometimes I’m throwing on Nirvana, Green Day, and a bunch of those bands.”

The eclectic mix that defies categorization traces back to his earliest exposure to music.

“I’ve got good music taste,” Williams said defensively as a few teammates eavesdropped. “My music is very diverse, shout out to my mom. She listened to a lot of that old soul stuff.”

Music is truly a window into the soul; it shows in how Williams carries himself. Loose, humble, grounded, yet confident enough to be curious and make mistakes. It’s also the only way to get better at the game. Headphones come off for shootaround, though, as Williams wants to absorb everything. Being able to chat up the coaches and hype up teammates is more important. Everyone knows Williams is there for them, even if his playlist is all over the place.

Those traits are undeniable after just a few minutes with the former first-round pick, so a jump year three leap would not be surprising to anyone in the front office. Still, in a league best known for rap and hip-hop connections, Williams is learning a few new tunes as well.

“LUCKI is my go-to new artist for sure,” Williams shared. “I’m getting into his catalogue, listening to that when I need some new rap.”

The 21-year-old’s support system extends well beyond his mother’s CD binders. At the center stands his brother Jalen, the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star who just captured an NBA championship.

“Big shout out to my brother (Jalen). He has been my best wingman and biggest inspiration through this whole thing,” Cody noted. “I definitely wouldn’t have made this kind of journey without him. He is a good punching bag. I beat up on him a lot, but he gives me tips on defense.”

Jalen’s ascent from unheralded Santa Clara product to lottery pick to champion has provided a blueprint. Now Cody is beginning to find his footing. Since dropping 18 points on New Year’s Day, Williams has averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.7 steals/blocks while shooting 52.5% from the field.

This recent uptick in production is just part of getting comfortable on the job.

“I think I’m getting a real good idea on how I affect the team overall,” Williams explained, “and how I can be effective on the court. It’s just playing to my strengths and weaknesses, especially on the defensive end. Then it’s putting a lot of pressure on the rim offensively. That’s how I can play to my niche and help the team. I feel like understanding my game more as the season has gone on is why I’ve been able to play better.”

Despite the increasing comfort level, some things haven’t changed since his childhood days dreaming of this moment.

“I still get butterflies before the game,” Williams admitted. “I’m just excited to be out there, to have this opportunity to live a dream. I don’t know if that feeling will ever go away, just because I genuinely love what I do. I don’t even call this a job because this still feels like a dream. I still feel like a little kid every time that jump ball. Everything about it is just exciting.”

For a Jazz franchise in the middle of a deliberate rebuild, that kind of enthusiasm from a young cornerstone is exactly what the organization is banking on. If the last several weeks are any indication, the prospect with the headphones and the wide-ranging playlist is beginning to figure out how to turn that excitement into production.

The post Exclusive: Cody Williams goes in-depth on impact of brother Jalen, growth with Jazz core appeared first on ClutchPoints.

And well, the Jazz have multiple injury concerns to worry about, with both Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George finding their names on the injury list. While Markkanen listed as probable due to illness, George is questionable with a right ankle sprain, per the official injury report.

Of course, something similar is true for the Rockets, who are also missing several names for this game.

Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George injury status vs. Rockets

Markkanen is listed as probable and the expectation is that Utah’s leading scorer will suit up against Houston. Markkanen last played for the Jazz in the win over the Sacramento Kings and they have lost both of their games during his absence.

Markkanen is currently averaging 26.7 points and seven rebounds per game and his presence becomes even more crucial against a Rockets defense that ranks fourth in points allowed (109.4 per game).

Utah enters the matchup at 18-39 after a 123-114 loss to Memphis in which they conceded 24 turnovers. As for George, his questionable status means that the Jazz has further issues. George is averaging 23.8 points and 6.5 assists per game and will be a huge miss if he ends up sitting out. Regardless, the Rockets also have multiple absentees, including Steven Adams and Tristen Newton.

Jazz injury report

Lauri Markkanen: Probable (illness)

Keyonte George: Questionable (right ankle sprain)

Jaren Jackson Jr.: Out (left knee injury recovery)

Walker Kessler: Out (left shoulder injury recovery)

Jusuf Nurkić: Out (nose injury management)

Rockets injury report

Steven Adams: Out (left ankle surgery)

Tristen Newton: Out (G League two-way)

Jae’Sean Tate: Out (right knee sprain)

Fred VanVleet: Out (right knee ACL repair)

The post Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George on injury report for Rockets showdown appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The longtime NBA veteran played 19 seasons in the league, winning the Sixth Man of the Year award during the 2008-09 season. Terry ended his career as a 38.0% shooter from beyond the arc, shooting a career-high 43.8% from 3-point range during the 2006-07 season when the Dallas Mavericks posted the league’s best record at 67-15.

Terry currently serves as an assistant coach for the Utah Jazz, a role he’s played since the 2022-23 season. One of the Jazz’s most promising young players is none other than Ace Bailey, who was their top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Bailey was selected with the fifth overall pick in the draft after averaging 17.6 points per game during his lone season at Rutgers.

Through the first half of the season, the 6-foot-9 Bailey has played a key role in the rotation for the Jazz, averaging 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 49 games and 38 starts. Terry has high hopes for Bailey, even comparing him to Hall of Fame guard Ray Allen when it comes to his quick release.

Allen was a 10-time All-Star who is regarded as one of the best 3-point shooters ever.

“There’s no limit for Ace Bailey, because he’s a blank canvas,” Terry said in a one-on-one interview. “He’s only 19 years old. He’s coming in. He’s raw, but he has supreme athleticism and his ability to shoot — he can be one of the great shooters from long range, when it’s all said and done. He has a quick release, and he gets it off. He gets it off quick, kind of like a Ray Allen type release. He doesn’t jump as high. But as far as getting that shot off, he gets it off pretty quick.”

So far this season, Bailey is converting on 45.0% of his attempts and 34.0% of his 3-point shots. Terry said where Bailey will excel at when it comes to his 3-point attempts is “coming off screens on pin downs” and shooting 3-pointers in transition.

Bailey obviously has a long ways to go before he’s even considered in the same league as Allen, but he’s receiving key playing time as part of a rebuilding effort in Utah. The 19-year-old ranks fourth in points and fifth in 3-pointers made on the Jazz.

With that being said, Bailey only spent one year in college. Furthermore, he’ll have all of the time in the world to develop considering Utah is in clear rebuilding mode. At 18-38, they’re currently 13th in the Western Conference after posting the worst record in the NBA last season at 17-65.

The sky is certainly the limit for the 6-foot-9 small forward.

The post Exclusive: Jason Terry compares Ace Bailey to Ray Allen in 1 unique aspect appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Keyonte George injury status vs. Grizzlies

Given the recent controversy regarding the Jazz sitting key players, their injury reports will be monitored closely for the rest of the season. That includes Friday’s game against the Grizzlies, for which Utah lists Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler and George as out.

The Jazz expected to be without Jackson and Kessler. Jackson’s recent surgery ruled him out for the year, while Kessler has not played since undergoing shoulder surgery in November.

George and Markkanen were questionable for the game throughout the week. Utah had hoped to get both players back after the All-Star break, but neither appears ready to return. George will miss another game with an ankle sprain, and Markkanen was a late addition to the report with an illness.

Despite the recent scrutiny, both players are dealing with legitimate injuries. George has only appeared in one game in February, ending a three-game absence, only to injure his ankle against the Orlando Magic.

Without George, the Jazz will continue rolling with Isaiah Collier as their starting point guard. Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski rounded out the starting lineup in their last game without Jackson and Markkanen.

Jazz injury report

Keyonte George — OUT, Right ankle sprain

Jaren Jackson Jr. — OUT, Left knee surgery

Walker Kessler — OUT, Left shoulder injury recovery

Lauri Markkanen — Questionable, Illness

Jusuf Nurkic — OUT, Nose injury management

Oscar Tshiebwe — Questionable, Concussion

Grizzlies injury report

Santi Aldama — OUT, Right knee injury management

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — OUT, Right finger surgery recovery

Brandon Clarke — OUT, Right calf strain

Walter Clayton Jr. — Doubtful, Right calf contusion

Cedric Coward — OUT, Right knee hyperextension

Zach Edey — OUT, Left ankle stress reaction

Ty Jerome — OUT, Right calf injury management

Ja Morant — OUT, Left elbow UCL sprain

Scotty Pippen Jr. — OUT, Left toe injury management

The post Is Keyonte George playing tonight? Jazz vs. Grizzlies injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Or are they?

With their odds of winning the title as slim as a pencil on a diet restriction, many believe that the Jazz are more than willing to tank and get a better shot at landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft.

For sports commentator Colin Cowherd, it seems people in Salt Lake are totally fine with, um, sucking this season.

“I think the Utah fans, who almost have a collegiate feel because it’s a smaller NBA market, I think they’re in on it. I think they know it. I think they go to the games and enjoy it with their friends, but if you ask them if you can get the number two pick or the number 14 pick, they would take the number two,” said Cowherd on his podcast.

“Utah’s been bad for several years. What’s another 12 games or 26 games at the end of the year?”

The NBA recently fined the Jazz $500,000 for “compromising the integrity” of the league by benching their healthy players. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. did not play in the fourth quarter of their games against the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat last week. Utah lost both games.

Jackson is now out for the season as he set it to have surgery on his left knee.

Last year, the Jazz landed the No. 5 overall pick, using it on Ace Bailey. In 2024, they ended up with the No. 10 overall pick, grabbing Cody Williams. They had the No. 9 overall pick in 2023, taking Taylor Hendricks, who is now with the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Silver says the NBA is exploring every measure in hopes of mitigating teams from intentionally losing games to improve its odds in the upcoming draft, including taking away future draft picks.

“There is talk about every possible remedy now to stop this behavior,” Silver replied.

"There is talk about every possible remedy now to stop this behavior."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the possibility of stripping teams of draft picks instead of issuing fines pic.twitter.com/q9f45Xj0rd

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2026

The Jazz benched two of their top players in Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarters of a 120-117 loss to the Orlando Magic and a 115-111 win against the Miami Heat. In a 131-122 win, the Pacers removed Pascal Siakam in the fourth quarter.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver will continue to monitor teams’ approaches with the Jazz and the Pacers as two examples of what can happen to other NBA teams for tanking.

Jazz owner Ryan Smith responds to NBA fine

Jazz owner Ryan Smith responded to the hefty $500,000 fine on social media, calling out the NBA’s decision while pointing out his team’s recent win against the Heat. Despite the Jazz victory, the association still fined Utah for benching its star players in its narrow four-point win against the Heat, to which Smith replied on his X, formerly Twitter.

“Agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …” Smith said. “The results-oriented reply is surely producing scoffs around the basketball-watching world. Utah’s victory this past Monday is more of an indictment on the Heat rather than a testament to its own efforts.”

"We won the game in Miami and got fined?"

Jazz governor Ryan Smith responds to his team's $500,000 fine by the NBA https://t.co/7YvIhAtcAl pic.twitter.com/x7vqrOMUGE

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 13, 2026

The Jazz has lost three of its last five games heading into the All-Star break.

The post Adam Silver makes feelings clear on tanking following Jazz, Pacers fines appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Be that as it may, the Jazz are not too far away from returning to consistent winning ways. They are building a nice young core over at Salt Lake City, and the front office believes in what they’ve built so far to the point of pushing for a win-now trade prior to the deadline which should, at least on paper, set them up to compete for a playoff spot, even in the loaded West, in 2027 and beyond.

The Jazz were surprisingly aggressive, nabbing one of the available stars in the NBA, and they have to be lauded for their declaration of intent that their tanking ways are nearing their end.

Jazz swing blockbuster trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Jazz have shown flashes of being very competitive this season, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that their offense has taken a significant step up. Utah has always believed in Keyonte George, hence their decision to draft him in the first place. But George’s career has taken off in his third season in the NBA, as he’s become one of the most explosive scoring guards in the association.

George is not your prototypical point guard, but he’s a flamethrower who can create his shot at any given moment, and having a player like that seems to be a must in today’s NBA for teams with contending aspirations. And the Jazz guard has future star written all over him and this certainly played a part in Utah being more aggressive on the trade market, acquiring former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jackson’s production has stagnated, but so has the Memphis Grizzlies team around him, so it’s hard to fault him too much for his shortcomings this season. The book on Jackson has been written; he’s one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA and he’s significantly more mobile on the perimeter on the defensive end than one would think, and he’s a versatile offensive player.

He’s able to put the ball on the floor, post up smaller defenders, and create buckets using that exceptional left-handed baby hook of his. And he’s been a reliable marksman for his entire career, having made 1.7 triples per game in his seven seasons in the NBA thus far on over 35 percent shooting.

The big weakness of Jackson’s game is his rebounding, as he has poor rebounding instincts and motor at times, and he doesn’t have the strength to bully his way onto the boards. But lucky for him, the Jazz have two very capable centers of handling the glass for him in Walker Kessler (when he returns from injury) and Jusuf Nurkic (who’s resting intermittently to help the Jazz lose a few more games).

And considering that the Jazz are playing Lauri Markkanen at the three, Jackson’s main weakness as a player shouldn’t be too big of a factor for Utah.

Utah’s biggest need is defense (they are literally dead-last in the NBA in defensive rating) and acquiring Jackson and pairing him with Kessler would solve so much of the Jazz’s defensive woes. Adding in Ace Bailey’s defensive potential on the perimeter, and the Jazz have all the makings of a balanced, two-way threat.

Now, the trade the Jazz made cost them dearly. They had to give up two recent first-round picks in Taylor Hendricks (drafted ninth overall in 2023) and Walter Clayton Jr. (18th overall in 2025) along with three first-round picks: the most favorable of the UTA/MIN/CLE first-round pick in 2027, the unprotected Los Angeles Lakers pick on the same year, and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick from the Phoenix Suns.

The Jazz should be ready to compete next season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves should still be contenders, so that pick shouldn’t come out as something they would regret parting ways with. The Lakers have Luka Doncic. The 2031 Suns pick could become something, but a lot can happen five years — five years ago, the Suns were in the NBA Finals.

Hendricks hasn’t progressed as well as the Jazz had hoped anyway, although a lot of that has to do with the gruesome injury he suffered that ended his sophomore campaign. Clayton looked like a quality point guard in the making, but the Jazz had George and Isaiah Collier anyway, so it’s not like they were in dire need of another floor general.

The Jazz are reaching the point of oversaturation with young players, and the goal is to put together a winning basketball team, not just to accumulate assets for the sake of it. It was nice and all that they had all those future picks, but hoarding them instead of giving them up for a perennial DPOY candidate like Jackson doesn’t seem like a smart move whatsoever. This trade shouldn’t be construed as anything other than a huge win for the Jazz.

Utah utilizes cap space to replenish asset base

For now, the Jazz are in a holding pattern as they intend for their pick to fall within the top-eight so that they could keep it out of the greedy Oklahoma City Thunder’s hands. As such, the Jazz pulled off a few trades to at least get a few more assets to function as a salary-dumping site for a few teams looking to trim their tax bill.

The Jazz acquired two second-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers to absorb the contract of Lonzo Ball, who’s looked washed this season. They then acquired one more second-round pick, with Austin Ainge helping his father Danny’s beloved Boston Celtics by trimming their tax bill further by absorbing Chris Boucher’s contract.

The Jazz front office nailed their trade deadline dealings, and every fan should be very pleased with how they maneuvered.

Jazz’s trade deadline grade: A+

The post Jazz 2026 NBA trade deadline grade after Jaren Jackson Jr. bombshell appeared first on ClutchPoints.

During the Rising Stars media availability at the Intuit Dome on Friday night, the 19-year-old forward finally spilled the beans on his official “Welcome to the NBA” moment. Unsurprisingly, it featured one of the league’s most lethal scoring machines: Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.

The moment was a simple, cold-blooded masterclass in the mid-range. Bailey explained that trying to guard the four-time All-Star is a nightmare scenario for any defender, let alone a rookie.

He noted that when it comes to Devin Booker, you are dealing with a signature fadeaway shot that is nearly impossible to stop without fouling. Bailey jokingly recalled thinking, “Bro, come on,” as he realized the level of difficulty he was now facing on a nightly basis.

NBA's Rising Stars share their "Welcome to the league" moments pic.twitter.com/xZ0oxtOUMC

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 14, 2026

Bailey, who stepped in as an injury replacement for Cooper Flagg on Team Melo at the Rising Stars game, has certainly been playing like he belongs. Over his last 15 games, the fifth overall pick has averaged 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor. He brought that momentum into the Rising Stars tournament, helping the Carmelo Anthony-led squad to a 65-60 win over Team Austin in the semifinals.

While Dylan Harper grabbed the headlines with a game-winning bucket, Bailey’s defensive versatility was on full display throughout the evening. Team Melo eventually fell just short in the championship game, losing 25-24 to Team Vince after V.J. Edgecombe iced the game at the free-throw line.

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When speaking on “NBA Today” for ESPN on the topic of the fines from the NBA towards Utah and Indiana, Perkins would go as far as to say that each team should have been fined $5 million for “disrespecting the game of basketball.” He would even say that tanking is a “nice” way to put what the teams were doing.

“I wish Adam Silver would have fined them $5 million for disrespecting the game of basketball, like, let’s stop being nice about it and throwing out the word tanking,” Perkins said. “No, it’s actually throwing games. You’re trying to throw games to lose games. Think about that for a second. In one of the best sports in the world, in a competitive sport, you’re teaching to try to lose games.”

"I wish Adam Silver would've fined them $5M for disrespecting the game of basketball. Let's stop being nice about it and throwing out the word 'tanking.' No, it's actually throwing games."

—@KendrickPerkins weighs in on the Jazz and Pacers being fined for sitting healthy players… pic.twitter.com/GoTP7vfQO2

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 13, 2026

Kendrick Perkins continues his message to the Jazz

While the Jazz face the $500,000 fine, the NBA cites two games in particular on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 against the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat, respectively, that saw the team sit starters Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the fourth quarter. There is no refutation of them sitting due to Utah being blown out, as they were close games with both players having no injury designation at the time.

Perkins would fire back that even if teams are tanking for better draft picks, the prospects for the 2026 draft aren’t generational.

“There’s not a generational talent in this draft. Do they have some good franchise guys? Absolutely,” Perkins said. “AJ Dybantsa, is he a Victor [Wembanyama]? Is he a Cooper Flagg? Is he a LeBron [James]? No. Is any of those guys capable of doing something or taking it to that level? I think they’re good starting points. But going back to Adam Silva, I would have fined their a** more.”

At any rate, Utah is currently 18-38, putting them as the third-worst record in the West.

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While the Pacers were fined $100,000 as a result of violating the Player Participation Policy by resting players who could have participated and reducing their minutes to try and intentionally lose, the Jazz were hit with a $500,000 fine for removing Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. from a game against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9, respectively, and benching them for the entirety of the fourth quarter.

The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/0JFQpOnOmF

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 13, 2026

These two instances by the Pacers and Jazz were deemed to be “conduct detrimental to the league” that Silver and the league office will not tolerate. However, the Jazz have stood firm on doing nothing wrong, and head coach Will Hardy explained why exactly he has limited Markkanen’s minutes in recent games.

“I sat Lauri because he was on a minutes restriction,” Hardy said in his postgame remarks following a 135-119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. “If our medical team puts a minutes restriction on Lauri, I’ll try to keep Lauri healthy.”

Both Markkanen and Jackson Jr. were benched following the third quarter in previous matchups with Orlando and Miami, which prompted the NBA to investigate and eventually fine the organization $500,000 for what fans have described as “blatant tanking” on social media.

Although the Jazz are in no position to contend for the playoffs and have likely held internal discussions about resting Markkanen and others to try and gain an advantage for draft position, Hardy did bring up an interesting point about how Utah’s medical team advised him to have Markkanen on a strict minutes restriction due to injury prevention.

The Jazz star has missed 15 games this season due to various injuries, and he was recently on the team’s injury report for injury-related rest. He has not eclipsed 27 minutes in any game since the start of February.

As for Jackson, his injury concerns take things one step further.

After being traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Jazz before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, Jackson played in three games for Utah. In Jackson’s case, he never eclipsed 25 minutes in any of these games, and the team recently announced that an MRI revealed a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth in his left knee that he will undergo surgery to remove.

A PVNS growth in the knee is a noncancerous tumor-like growth that causes joint swelling and pain. The Jazz allegedly knew about this knee problem upon making their trade with Memphis and intended on shutting Jackson down for the remainder of the year, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. Jackson, however, wanted to play in Salt Lake City at least once before undergoing surgery, which is why he was limited in his first three games with the Jazz.

Whether or not one believes the Jazz were actually tanking by resting their star players is open for interpretation. As Jazz owner Ryan Smith pointed out on social media, the Jazz did win their game on the road against Miami after benching Markkanen and Jackson, so it’s not like they intentionally lost the game.

The NBA will continue to evaluate all 30 teams when it comes to star players being ruled out, and they will continue to hand out punishment to teams who are suspected of tanking to try and increase their draft lottery odds.

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The Jazz were recently fined $500,000 for sitting the players late in games, which they considered conduct detrimental to the league. The Jazz then announced that Jackson would miss the rest of the season as he undergoes surgery on his left knee.

Some around the league think that the Jazz are purposely tanking, and they’re calling them out for it. One of the rumored teams that has been telling stories about the Jazz is the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.

“Oklahoma City is going through back channels to put pressure on the Jazz to play the season out in order for them to get the pick,” Jones said on KSL Sports.

The Thunder will get the Jazz’s pick if it lands outside of the top-8.

“It’s OKC going through back channels, planting stuff, planting stories, in order to pressure the Jazz into playing the season. The Jazz are going to do whatever they can to keep the pick. Just from being around here for the last 36 hours, I don’t think they care one bit about what people are thinking of them.”

The Jazz have been near the bottom of the standings for the past few years, but they’ve gotten better talent-wise this season. After acquiring Jackson at the trade deadline, it was evident that they were trying to turn a corner, but they also knew the logistics of trying to keep their pick.

It’s obvious the Thunder want the pick, so if it is true that they’re planting stories, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise.

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Bailey is halfway through the rookie campaign of his NBA career with the Jazz. He has steadily progressed in having a firm role on the squad, having solid production as a scorer and defender.

The rookie forward also has a knack for showing off his athleticism. That was especially the case during Utah’s contest against Portland. His highlight took place in the early minutes of the second quarter as Bailey threw the ball off the backboard then caught it as he threw down the two-handed dunk with authority.

ACE BAILEY OFF THE BACKBOARD TO HIMSELF FOR THE SLAM

pic.twitter.com/YqAVReqSWD

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 13, 2026

How Ace Bailey, Jazz played against Blazers

It was an impressive highlight for Ace Bailey to get for his rookie mixtape. However, the Jazz couldn’t cool off the Blazers in a 135-119 defeat at home.

The game was competitive as Utah even led 63-61 at halftime. Despite this, Portland boomed with a 40-23 display in the third quarter, something that the hosts never recovered from.

Six players scored in double-digits for Utah in the loss, including Bailey. He finished with a stat line of 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes of play. He shot 7-of-15 from the field, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. Brice Sensabaugh led the team with 28 points and four rebounds, Isaiah Collier came next with 15 points and nine assists, Kyle Filipowski had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Svi Mykhailiuk put up 14 points and three assists. Meanwhile, Blake Hinson provided 11 points off the bench.

Utah fell to an 18-38 record on the season, holding the 13th spot in the Western Conference standings. They are three games above the New Orleans Pelicans and six games above the Sacramento Kings while trailing the Dallas Mavericks by # games and the Memphis Grizzlies by 3.5 games.

The Jazz are officially on rest mode due to the upcoming All-Star Weekend festivities in Los Angeles. They will resume next week when they face the Memphis Grizzlies in a road matchup on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. ET.

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Jazz head coach Will Hardy sparingly played core members of the squad against both the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, so perhaps a strong response was inevitable. The franchise’s owner is not taking the punishment quietly, however.

“Agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …” Ryan Smith posted on X shortly after the NBA announced the fines. The results-oriented reply is surely producing scoffs around the basketball-watching world. Utah’s victory this past Monday is more of an indictment on the Heat rather than a testament to its own efforts.

The Jazz benched Lauri Markkanen and midseason acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entire fourth quarter, clearly communicating their intentions to lose the contest. An organizational philosophy is not always player-proof, however. Those on the floor worked hard for the W, but management’s agenda is undeniable. Smith knows that a narrow victory does not completely erase a blatant tanking attempt. He still has a valid gripe with the NBA, however. It is just not the one he is claiming in his quote tweet.

Is the NBA picking on the Jazz?

The Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings are both engaging in similar tactics, but Silver has yet to punish them this season. The messaging needs to be consistent. All teams that position themselves for losses should face the consequences.

While this is not the first time the Jazz (18-37) have been accused of tanking, they are still not the only culprit. The league will hurt its credibility if it only disciplines certain instances. Still, Ryan Smith should understand why his team’s approach is drawing the NBA’s ire.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is set to have season-ending surgery to remove a pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth on his knee, so Utah may be off the hook moving forward. Competitiveness will nevertheless remain a hot topic through the rest of the campaign.

The post Jazz owner fires back at NBA after facing $500,000 fine for tanking appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/0JFQpOnOmF

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 13, 2026

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement released by the NBA. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”

The Jazz were fined after two consecutive incidents over the last week. During their games against the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat, Utah was in a position to win the game. However, the team decided to bench stars Jaren Jackson Jr and Lauri Markannen in the final quarter despite the game still being close enough. The Jazz lost to the Magic despite leading by 17 points at one point and won against the Heat. The Jazz were fined $500,000 due to these incidents by the NBA.

On the other hand, the Pacers are being punished due to their actions in their game against the Jazz last week. Pascal Siakam did not play in said game, a 131-122 loss to Utah. However, the NBA determined that Siakam, as well as Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J McConnell, were all fit to play in some capacity. They have been fined $100,000 for their actions.

While tanking has been an unspoken standard in the NBA for a long time now, it’s been mostly done quietly without any fanfare. Fans have long complained about the practice, as it makes the games unenjoyable to watch, and watching a team do everything they can to lose is not a good product. However, most teams have at least made it subtle enough for the league to turn a blind eye to it. After these blatant displays, the league has decided that enough is enough.

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Whereas the Mavs announced that Flagg is out through the All-Star break with a left midfoot sprain, the Wizards announced early Thursday morning that Sarr would miss the All-Star event due to a hamstring strain. This injury will keep Sarr sidelined for approximately two weeks.

Since both Flagg and Sarr are unable to participate in the Rising Stars event, the NBA has already named their replacements for the weekend’s festivities. Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey will be replacing Flagg, and Wizards guard Bub Carrington will be replacing Sarr, his teammate, in the 2026 Rising Stars.

Despite a slow start to his rookie year in Salt Lake City, Bailey has worked his way into being a key contributor for Will Hardy’s team. Since the start of January, Bailey has averaged 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the floor. He ranks fifth in scoring among all rookies during this stretch.

Bailey has also scored at least 10 points in 14 of his last 16 games, including four 20-point performances.

As for Carrington, he continues to see his role with the Wizards increase with CJ McCollum no longer being on the team and Trae Young yet to make his debut since the big trade in January.

Carrington has started in 24 of the 53 games he’s played this season, averaging 10.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range. He is one of 16 second-year players averaging double-digit scoring numbers, and he’s made the third-most threes out of NBA “sophomores” this season.

The 2026 Rising Stars will take place on Friday, February 13, at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

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“BREAKING: Utah Jazz star Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his left knee to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade, league sources tell me,” Haynes wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

It’s uncertain if this came up on the physical before the trade, instead of being after it was finalized. Either way, it’s good that the Jazz are doing something about it now, because it could lead to long-term damage to the knees.

Jackson only played three games with the Jazz after he was traded, and he looked like he fit nicely alongside Lauri Markkanen and the rest of the team. They’ll now have to wait until next season to get a full scope of what they could be when healthy.

The Jazz surprised everyone at the deadline when they traded for Jackson, and it was an indicator that they’re ready to get back to being competitive. For years, the Jazz have been near the bottom of the Western Conference standings and have been picking in the lottery.

There’s no doubt that they’ll be picking in the lottery once again after this season, but they may want this to be their last time doing so.

In fact, though the Jazz haven’t publicy came out and said they’re losing games on purpose, it’s obvious that something has been going on in the past few games as head coach Will Hardy has willingly sat Jackson and Markkanen in the fourth quarter.

The post Jazz’s Jaren Jackson Jr. likely to miss remainder of season with knee injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Acquired from the Grizzlies on February 3, Jackson scored 23 points in a 121–93 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. The game marked the first time in his NBA career that the 2022–23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year suited up for a team other than Memphis, reinforcing Utah’s aggressive push to reshape its roster for a postseason run.

The trade sent Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr., and three first-round picks to the Grizzlies. The move reshaped both franchises and sparked speculation about how Jackson felt leaving the organization that drafted him fourth overall in 2018.

The Athletic’s Tony Jones shared what the Jazz forward said about his time in Memphis, posting the response on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account after the game.

“I have nothing but love and respect for my time in Memphis and they know that”

The quote marked Jackson’s first substantial public comment on the trade. His message emphasized appreciation rather than frustration, offering clarity amid swirling narratives about the deal.

For Utah, that tone carries weight. Jackson now pairs with Lauri Markkanen as the Jazz position themselves in the Western Conference playoff race. By speaking respectfully about Memphis, he eliminates potential distractions and reinforces a professional locker-room culture.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies pivot toward youth and future draft capital, while the Jazz prioritize defensive versatility and scoring punch. Jackson’s 23-point outing highlighted his two-way impact and immediate on-court fit.

The early returns suggest Utah believes the aggressive gamble will pay dividends as the playoff picture begins to sharpen.

Most importantly, Jackson’s comments close one chapter while opening another. He preserved his legacy with the Grizzlies while embracing a new opportunity in Utah. For the Jazz, that clarity strengthens team chemistry and public perception as the season moves forward.

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According to Utah Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen, Hardy confirmed that Markkanen would play against Sacramento but under a strict minutes restriction.

The team intends to monitor how his body responds to the game action before making a final determination on his availability for Thursday’s back-to-back contest. This careful handling comes as Utah looks to keep its franchise cornerstone healthy for the final stretch of the season.

So far, the plan hasn’t slowed down the Jazz. Utah has jumped out to a massive 79-49 lead as the game progresses, completely overwhelming a depleted Sacramento roster. The Kings are currently struggling without the interior presence of Domantas Sabonis and the scoring punch of Zach LaVine, both of whom are sidelined with injuries.

While Markkanen’s minutes are being closely watched, the Jazz are finding plenty of production elsewhere. New addition Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to make his presence felt, leading the scoring with 18 points. The Jazz are also weathering the absence of starting guard Keyonte George, who is out tonight while nursing a right ankle sprain.

With the game still in the second half, Utah looks poised to snap Sacramento’s hopes of ending their long road losing streak. The energy in Salt Lake City is high, especially as the Jazz continue to experiment with the Markkanen and Jackson Jr. pairing. Fans are keeping a close eye on the bench to see exactly when Hardy pulls the plug on Markkanen’s night, but for now, the Jazz are firmly in the driver’s seat.

The post Jazz HC Will Hardy reveals Lauri Markkanen gameplan before All-Star break appeared first on ClutchPoints.

League sources confirmed the Raptors’ strong push for Kessler, per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

“In addition to talking with the Kings about Sabonis and the Grizzlies about Jackson Jr., the Raptors also made a very strong push the day of the trade deadline for Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints,” Siegel reported.

“Multiple first-round picks were offered by the Raptors for Kessler, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder, yet the Jazz held zero interest in trading their young big man.”

The Pacers also reportedly also expressed interest in Kessler before pivoting to Zubac.

“Other teams, including the Pacers before landing Zubac, showed heavy interest in trading for Kessler,” Siegel added. “The Jazz are fully expected to retain Kessler as a restricted free agent in the summer on a new long-term contract. After trading for Jackson Jr., Utah sees itself having a formidable big-man trio that can do damage defensively during the 2026-27 season.”

Kessler complements a dynamic frontcourt duo led by 2023’s Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr., and the Jazz’s leading scorer, Lauri Markkanen.

Jazz reportedly turned down 2 unprotected first-round picks

The Jazz reportedly turned down the Pacers’ trade offer for Walker Kessler, which included two future first-round picks. Perhaps an offer similar to the one the Clippers received for Ivica Zubac, which included two future first-round picks and one second-round pick.

The Jazz turned down the Pacers’ trade offer ahead of the deadline, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

“Sources: Indiana Pacers made a run at Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and offered a package highlighted by two unprotected first-round picks,” Haynes reported. “It was declined, and Pacers pivoted to Zubac. Kessler will be in demand as a restricted free agent this summer.”

Kessler seems to be a big part of the Jazz’s future.

The post NBA rumors: Raptors joined Pacers in offering multiple 1st-round picks for Walker Kessler appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Initially, the Jazz had ruled Lauri Markkanen out for this game due to rest, but now, his status has been changed, and he is listed as available for the contest. This could seemingly be in response to the slew of mockery that has been hurled in the Jazz’s direction over the last couple of weeks as a result of their blatant attempt to lose games.

Meanwhile, the Kings are making no secret about their desire to remain uncompetitive, as the team has listed Malik Monk, Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, De’Andre Hunter, and Keegan Murray all out for this game due to various ailments.

The Kings, of course, aren’t particularly good at winning even when all of their main players are on the floor, but this injury report seems to signal a clear opportunity for the team to try to lose against another team in the Jazz that is on the race to the bottom.

Recently, Jazz coach Will Hardy received immense criticism for pulling his starters in a road game against the Orlando Magic, which Utah went on to lose after leading by 17 points in the second half. The coach pulled a similar maneuver in the team’s recent game against the Miami Heat, but the Heat’s incompetence made it so that the Jazz still ended up winning the game.

In any case, tipoff for Wednesday’s tank-off is set for 9:00 pm ET.

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Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George are all ruled out for the game against the Kings. Markkanen is not dealing with an injury and is sitting to rest. Meanwhile, Kessler is dealing with a shoulder injury, and George has a right ankle sprain.

“Jazz Injury Report:
OUT – Keyonte George (right ankle sprain)
OUT – Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)
OUT – Lauri Markkanen (rest)”

NBA fans saw the injury report and immediately blasted the Jazz for allegedly tanking. Many made hilarious jokes, while others want the league to take some sort of action. Either way, numerous individuals shared their opinions about Utah.

“Can we get Jazz Bear to ride in on a tank instead of a motorcycle? Flipping off Bobby Marks and the NBA would be extra delicious,” joked one fan.

This user said, “@NBA investigate this team. Take away their picks.”

Demons pic.twitter.com/hxqH4KYTvK

— zinzy° (@playoffzinzy) February 11, 2026

“They are going to rest [Lauri Markkanen] until he’s 32,” mocked another individual.

One sports fan stated, “Sitting on the bench in [the fourth quarter] is tiring. Rest well, Lauri.”

“Your franchise is an abomination to basketball. How is Markkanen out for ‘rest,’ a day AFTER you had a night off?? This is why the modern NBA is dying, and if the NBA doesn’t fine the s*** out of you for this, or penalize you in some way, organizations like yours are going to ruin the sport,” proclaimed an angry fan to the Jazz.

Utah caught some heat from NBA fans shortly after the 120-117 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The Jazz decided to sit Markkanen, along with Jaren Jackson Jr., for most of the fourth quarter. During that stretch, Orlando outscored Utah 33-23 in the fourth quarter to earn the win.

Markkanen’s next opportunity to play will come on Thursday when the Jazz face off against the Portland Trail Blazers. Utah is currently the No. 13 seed in the Western Conference.

The post Fans mock Jazz after injury report for Kings game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On one hand, the team clearly wants to put a bow on their rebuilding process in a major way, as they traded three picks and multiple former prospects to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr., but the Jazz really want to go all-in on their playoff pursuit next season, as they could still add one more lottery pick to a roster that looks ready to compete thanks to Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and company if they have a bad enough record.

This have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too strategy has forced Will Hardy, one of the better head coaches in the NBA, to bench his starters in the fourth quarter and avoid calling time-outs when he could easily set his players up for success, even if the strategy hasn’t always worked, as evidenced by the team’s unlikely win over the Miami Heat.

Is the NBA cool with this iteration of tanking? In the opinion of ESPN Front Office Insider Bobby Marks, the answer should be a resounding no, as he believes the Jazz are actually “messing around with the integrity of the NBA.”

“I think what Utah is doing right now is messing around with the integrity of the NBA. The ability to sit players, starters, in the fourth quarter, to not call timeouts in the fourth quarter,” Marks said. “Orlando won the game on Saturday because they basically rested players. It backfired on them last night. So I think if you’re the league, you’re looking at it, alright, can we do some gimmicks, can we alter protections, eliminate protections as far as picks, or can we put the hammer down?”

After losing 15 of their 18 games before the trade deadline in 2026, the Jazz are 1-2 since acquiring JJJ from the Grizzlies, including a loss to the Orlando Magic where the new No. 20 played 25 minutes in his Utah debut. While the Jazz may be able to rack up the losses down the stretch, with 29 games left to play, if things get downright comical, Adam Silver may need to make another change to the NBA’s tanking policy in order to maintain the integrity of the game.

Bobby Marks:

"I think what Utah is doing right now is messing around with the integrity of the NBA" pic.twitter.com/7KBRrt2Auq

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 10, 2026

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Nonetheless, the Jazz have made it clear that they are intending to compete next season, if their decision to bring in Jaren Jackson Jr. and their decision to rebuff trade overtures for Walker Kessler is any indication. Lauri Markkanen continues to be one of the best scoring forwards in the association, after all, and it isn’t hard to imagine Utah being consistently competitive as soon as next season.

Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic, in fact, believes that Markkanen deserves more recognition from the NBA, with the Bosnian big man lobbying for his teammate to make it to the All-Star Game.

“Adam Silver do the right thing!! #AllStar,” Nurkic wrote on his official account on X (formerly Twitter).

Adam Silver do the right thing!! #AllStar pic.twitter.com/znZdAjB84R

— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) February 10, 2026

Nurkic was so passionate about this plea of his that he got into another verbal spat on social media.

“I know u ain’t talking wit no d,” Nurkic replied to an X user telling him to “shut up.”

Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen should make an All-Star Game… in the future

The Jazz being so brazen about their intention to keep on losing as many games as they can means that Markkanen is going to be a part-time NBA player from here on out. Markkanen’s periodic rest days have even begun, and there’s no way that Adam Silver will call on him to be a potential injury replacement All-Star especially when others have been more durable than him.

Nonetheless, once the Jazz start consistently winning games again, Markkanen should have no trouble finding himself in the All-Star Game for the second time in his career.

The post Jazz’s Jusuf Nurkic sends Lauri Markkanen request to Adam Silver appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Monday night, however, there was nothing that was going to prevent the Jazz from winning. Brice Sensabaugh did not get the memo that Utah was trying to lose intentionally, as he hit a go-ahead triple with less than a minute left to give the Jazz an eventual 115-111 win over the Miami Heat in a game that head coach Will Hardy sat Markkanen, newly-acquired Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic for the entirety of the fourth quarter.

Hardy’s comments after the game leaves the Jazz with little-to-no plausible deniability in their tanking efforts, as he admitted that there was no way that Markkanen, Jackson, and Nurkic were entering the contest even though the game was still up for grabs.

“I wasn’t [going to put Markkanen or Jackson back in],” Hardy said, via Five Reasons Sports on X (formerly Twitter).

Asked Jazz coach Will Hardy how close he was to putting Lauri Markkanen or Jaren Jackson Jr. in the game in the fourth quarter.

“I wasn’t.” pic.twitter.com/bZcEkCo8WA

— Five Reasons Sports (@5ReasonsSports) February 10, 2026

Will NBA put an end to Jazz’s blatant tank job?

It’s clear why the Jazz are trying to lose games; their 2026 first-round pick would convey to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it landed outside the top eight. But the brazenness with which they’re tanking has to give commissioner Adam Silver a very sour taste in his mouth.

The Jazz have been trying to boost their lottery odds over the past few seasons. But even then, the best pick they got was the fifth overall pick in 2025, which they used to select Ace Bailey. Is this the year Utah finally cashes in, especially when the acquisition of Jackson puts them in prime position to compete for a playoff spot next season?

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“Isaiah Collier to beat the 1H buzzer… GOT IT

Jazz lead at the break!”

Isaiah Collier to beat the 1H buzzer… GOT IT

Jazz lead at the break! pic.twitter.com/tmeYqnzlFN

— NBA (@NBA) February 10, 2026

The basket proved significant in a game ultimately decided by a narrow margin. Utah closed out a 115–111 road win over the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center, improving to 17–37 on the season while handing Miami its fourth loss in five games. After falling behind 32–26 in the opening quarter, the Jazz seized control in the second period, outscoring the Heat 35–20 to flip the game before halftime.

Miami responded after the break, winning the third quarter and pushing the contest into a tight finish, but Utah maintained composure late, taking the fourth quarter 30–29 to secure the four-point victory. The halftime buzzer-beater loomed larger as the margin held.

Utah leaned on a balanced attack. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 22 points and a team-high plus-15 rating, while Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and eight rebounds. Collier contributed 13 points and nine assists, continuing to direct the offense efficiently. Jusuf Nurkic controlled the interior with 16 rebounds, and Kyle Filipowski delivered a double-double off the bench.

Miami was led by Andrew Wiggins’ 26 points and Bam Adebayo’s 23-point, 11-rebound performance, but the Heat were unable to fully erase the deficit created before halftime.

The post Jazz guard Isaiah Collier nails stunning deep 3-pointer before buzzer appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Then, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Ball in the offseason. It was a somewhat shocking move at the time, and hindsight has proved it was a mistake. Ball has put up career lows across the board this year, and it culminated in him being traded to the Utah Jazz at the NBA trade deadline. Utah immediately waived Ball, and despite his struggles this year, he is still one of the top players available on the open market. So, what are the best destinations for Ball?

Denver Nuggets

ClutchPoints’ very own Brett Siegel reported that the top two suitors for Ball are the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. After converting Spencer Jones to a standard contract, the Nuggets still have one open roster spot. The team came into the season with point guard as arguably their biggest need.

Jamal Murray and Jalen Pickett were the only two lead guards on the roster. Murray has had his best season to date and earned his first All-Star nod, and Pickett has been a solid contributor, even starting 18 games for the team so far. While point guard isn’t as big of a concern as it was previously, adding a player like Ball would still be smart.

The Nuggets have been ravaged by injuries this year. They’ve done well in surviving extended absences from Nikola Jokic, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Jonas Valanciunas, and Peyton Watson, but the newfound depth they created in the offseason has certainly been tested. Adding another body makes sense, but especially a player that has the size to play multiple positions and fill in wherever help is needed.

While Ball is a point guard by trade, he is a jumbo facilitator who can guard twos and threes, too. Denver’s bench unit has been much improved this year, but the non-Jokic minutes have typically been a disaster. Ball’s playmaking could ensure Denver’s bench doesn’t return to old habits.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors’ trade deadline plans and championship aspirations were likely thwarted when Jimmy Butler went down with a season-ending injury. Even so, the Warriors made a trade deadline move that brings balance to their roster. The team traded Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield for Kristaps Porzingis.

Kuminga had one foot out the door for quite some time, and Hield was expendable because Golden State already had plenty of guard shooting in the form of Stephen Curry. Porzingis fills a hole for the Warriors because the team was desperate for a center. There was a dire need for an interior presence on both ends of the floor. Rim protection, in particular, was a huge need. Porzingis provides enough shooting to fit the Warriors’ offensive schemes, too.

Still, a gritty player is needed because of Butler’s injury. Ball isn’t the defender or glue guy he once was because of various lower-body injuries throughout his career. At his best, though, he could do a lot of the things that Butler provided the Warriors.

There are a couple of solid players who were waived or are on the buyout market, but teams rarely get true game changers in free agency after the trade deadline. The Warriors only have so many years of contention left, though, and Ball could certainly help them try to make a surprise run this season.

Charlotte Hornets

LaVar Ball’s dream scenario might be closer to reality than ever before. The Charlotte Hornets are led by LaMelo Ball, and he could very well team up with older brother Lonzo now that he is on the open market. The patriarch of the Ball family and Big Baller Brand’s founder has long wanted his sons to play together.

LiAngelo Ball’s window for life in the NBA has closed, but ensuring LaMelo is happy by pairing him up with one of his former Chino Hills teammates makes sense. It wasn’t that long ago that LaMelo heard his name in trade rumors. The Hornets have played great ever since, and Ball is now cemented as one of their long-term franchise players, but bringing in Lonzo would prove Charlotte’s loyalty to their former number three pick.

Both Ball brothers have somewhat similar skill sets, so Lonzo could back his brother up quite well and allow the Hornets to run the same offense even when the reserves are in. They are both tall guards who are best when creating for their teammates. They also both have unorthodox, but sometimes effective shooting forms, although both players can be streaky. Lonzo’s presence would also help LaMelo to be his best self because he loves competing against his brothers.

Lonzo’s athleticism has regressed, and with it has come poorer perimeter defense and less offensive creation ability. His 3-point shot has also been ineffective this year. Still, Lonzo has a high basketball IQ and makes too much sense on the Hornets.

The post 3 best Lonzo Ball destinations after Cavs dump him to Jazz to be waived appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, as one NBA executive pointed out, the Jazz still played all of their players in Saturday’s 120-117 loss to the Orlando Magic, per insider Marc Stein’s The Stein Line.

“They played all those players against Orlando. They didn’t just sit everybody,” the NBA executive said. “You can’t tell a team how to use their guys during a game.”

The Jazz have secured their frontcourt for the future in their dynamic duo of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. With both players signed through at least 2028-29, the two-time All-Star and All-Defensive forward gives Markkanen, a 2023 All-Star and 20+ point scoring seven-footer, one of the league’s better defensive forward in the NBA.

Jackson Jr., a two-time league-leader in blocks, had averaged 19.2 points on 47.5% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks this season for the Memphis Grizzlies. He finished with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in his Jazz debut. Markkanen led with 27 points, seven rebounds, and one block.

The Jazz have the sixth-best odds to land the number one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s message to Jazz fans

Former Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. addressed Jazz fans after his trade ahead of last week’s deadline was official. Jackson Jr. expressed his excitement in a video he posted on social media.

“What up, Jazz fans,” said Jackson. “I’m here. Take note. I’m excited to be here. Feels great. About to get some stuff done, but I’ll be clocking in real soon. Appreciate ya’ll.”

“Excited to be here… I’ll be clocking in real soon.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. touches down in Utah after being traded from the Grizzlies to the Jazz

(via @utahjazz)pic.twitter.com/B37RyWSFEo

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2026

The Jazz will continue their four-game road trip against the Heat on Monday.

The post Rival exec comes to Jazz’s defense for Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen tanking maneuver appeared first on ClutchPoints.

George is halfway through the third season of his NBA career with the Jazz. He has gotten more comfortable in the team’s style of play, embracing his responsibilities as one of the top scorers and playmakers.

However, injuries popped on his radar during Utah’s clash with Orlando. He sustained a right ankle sprain in the first half of the contest, ultimately ruling him out for the remainder of the game.

It ended his night after 13 minutes of action. He finished with a stat line of five points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal. He shot 1-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.

How Keyonte George, Jazz played against Magic

The Jazz remained competitive without Keyonte George’s services but ultimately faltered in the 120-117 road loss to the Magic.

Utah boasted a solid 94-87 lead after three quarters of action. However, their defense collapsed in the fourth period as Orlando outscored them 33-23 in the last 12 minutes of regulation.

Five players scored in double-digits for Utah in the loss. Lauri Markkanen led the way with a stat line of 27 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one block. He shot 12-of-21 from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Jaren Jackson Jr. came next with 22 points and five rebounds, Isaiah Collier had 20 points and 10 assists, while Kevin Love put up 13 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Ace Bailey provided 10 points and three assists.

Utah fell to a 16-37 record on the season, holding the 13th spot in the Western Conference standings. They are above the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings while trailing the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Jazz will look to bounce back in their next matchup, remaining on the road. They face the Miami Heat as tip-off will take place on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The post Jazz star Keyonte George exits Magic game with ankle injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

There are a few players on the roster like Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier who should be important components alongside Triple-J. Two of those guys displayed sublime chemistry during Saturday’s road game versus the Orlando Magic. Collier launched a pass from the Magic logo to Markkanen for a stunning alley-oop.

Lauri Markkanen rises up for the SLAM pic.twitter.com/izxushcsqT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 8, 2026

Once projected be a top-five draft pick, Collier posted an uneven freshman campaign with USC and fell toward the end of the first round. The 21-year-old may not live up to his pre-college hype, but he is making notable progress during his second NBA season. His playmaking skills especially stand out.

Collier is averaging 10.0 points and 7.1 assists in 24.9 minutes per contest while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. He displayed terrific court vision on this specific sequence, connecting with a cutting Markkanen at the perfect time. The man who finished the play obviously deserves his due as well.

The Finnish 7-footer is enjoying another stellar season in Salt Lake City. He is scoring 27.1 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting from the field and 36.3 percent shooting from beyond the 3-point line. Markkanen has not done much winning during his four years in Utah, but he should shine brighter moving forward.

The Jazz have been gradually constructing a solid foundation. Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and Walker Kessler all appear to be core members of this squad (Ace Bailey’s day will come, too). Isaiah Collier is also intent on cementing a prominent role for himself. If the young point guard continues to break out dimes like the one he executed in Orlando, he will get his wish.

Utah will be spending the playoffs at home for a fourth straight year, but the next nine weeks will be interesting just the same. It’s about time.

The post Jazz’s Isaiah Collier, Lauri Markkanen connect for clinical alley-oop appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jackson took a bounce pass and came near the side of the key. He simply just lobbed it in for two points.

Jaren Jackson Jr. with his first bucket as a member of the Jazz pic.twitter.com/1vQ45CxDfQ

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 8, 2026

But it’ll likely become the first of many points for the newest member of the Jazz.

How Jaren Jackson Jr. arrived to Jazz

Jackson arrived before the NBA Trade Deadline came to a halt on Thursday. The move signaled a drastic change of the Ja Morant era that featured Jackson as a pivotal piece.

Morant was another hearing trade chatter across the league. But ended up staying as Jackson packed his bags.

This haul still involved an astonishing eight different players. Memphis landed three future draft picks in exchange. Rookie Walter Clayton Jr. also joined in on the deal.

Memphis is now guaranteed a whopping 13 picks in the deal. But Utah gets boosted here too.

Versatile guard/forward John Konchar arrived in the deal too. Same with center Jock Landale to boost the interior. Vince Williams Jr. is one more forward who’s added here.

Jackson hit the ground running in his Jazz debut down in Orlando. He dropped 15 points in just his first nine minutes. Jackson hit six field goals out of eight attempts. He also dished out two assists as the Jazz-Magic neared halftime.

Jackson is part of a rebuilding phase in Salt Lake City, though, as the Jazz are 16-36. But he’s giving a sample of his potential stardom here.

The post Watch Jaren Jackson Jr. swish his first bucket with Jazz appeared first on ClutchPoints.

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*

Keyonte George injury status vs. Magic

Given that Keyonte George is probable on the injury report, the assumption is he will be suiting up against the Magic on Saturday. He’s missed the previous three Jazz games, including Thursday’s 121-119 loss to the Hawks. The Jazz went 1-2 throughout their recent three-game stretch.

In a game where George scored a career-high 43 points in a 127-122 win against the Timberwolves, he also suffered a forearm injury, but has bounced back from it before his latest ankle injury forced him to miss three games in a row. The 2025-26 campaign has undoubtedly been George’s best season of his career. 

Averaging 24.2 points on 45.9% shooting, including 37.7% from deep, 6.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, George was one of the association’s annual All-Star snubs this season. In only his third year with the Jazz, he’s averaging career-bests in points, assists, steals, and every other statistical category, including his shooting percentages.

He’s also on the cusp of making his return for the Jazz. As for the question is Keyonte George playing tonight against the Magic, the answer is yes.

Jazz injury report

Keyonte George — Probable — Left ankle sprain

Walker Kessler — Out — Left shoulder injury recovery

Kevin Love — Probable — Illness

Magic injury report

Franz Wagner — Out — Left high-ankle sprain; injury management

The post Is Keyonte George playing tonight? Jazz vs. Magic injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jackson, who is 26 years old, posted a video of himself where he appears to be at an airport. The two-time All-Star informed Jazz fans that he is finally in Utah and that he can’t wait to start playing for the team.

“What up, Jazz fans,” said Jackson. “I’m here. Take note. I’m excited to be here. Feels great. About to get some stuff done, but I’ll be clocking in real soon. Appreciate ya’ll.”

“Excited to be here… I’ll be clocking in real soon.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. touches down in Utah after being traded from the Grizzlies to the Jazz

(via @utahjazz)pic.twitter.com/B37RyWSFEo

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2026

Jaren Jackson Jr. joins a Jazz team that is 16-35 through 51 games so far this season. Utah is seemingly in a rebuild, and adding Jackson to the roster gives the club a solid building block for the future. The eight-year veteran has been incredibly consistent throughout most of his career, serving as one of the league’s most effective two-way players.

Jackson joins the Jazz after playing 45 games with the Grizzlies this season. In those contests, he is averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. He is also shooting 47.5% from the floor and 35.9% from beyond the three-point line.

The Jazz are likely to start Jaren Jackson Jr. at center whenever he makes his debut with the team. However, he will more than likely move to power forward next season when Walker Kessler finally returns from the left shoulder injury that is forcing him to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign.

The post Jaren Jackson Jr. sends initial message to Jazz fans after blockbuster Grizzlies trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Prime NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Thursday that Indiana made a strong push for Kessler, offering a package headlined by two unprotected first-round picks. Utah declined the proposal, prompting the Pacers to pivot in another direction to address their frontcourt needs.

“Sources: Indiana Pacers made a run at Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and offered a package highlighted by two unprotected first-round picks,” Haynes reported on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It was declined and Pacers pivoted to Zubac. Kessler will be in demand as a restricted free agent this summer.”

Indiana ultimately acquired Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown from the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round pick to Los Angeles. The move addressed a major offseason hole for the Pacers following Myles Turner’s departure to the Milwaukee Bucks after Indiana’s NBA Finals run last summer.

Utah’s decision to reject Indiana’s offer comes amid a transformative stretch for the franchise. Earlier this week, the Jazz completed a surprise blockbuster trade to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr., reshaping their frontcourt and defensive identity. While that deal fueled speculation that additional core pieces could be moved, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel has consistently reported that Kessler remains central to Utah’s plans.

Jazz reaffirm Walker Kessler as long-term cornerstone despite Pacers’ aggressive pursuit

Following the Jackson trade, Siegel immediately reported that the Jazz have no intention of moving Kessler ahead of the deadline and expect him to be a long-term fixture. Kessler is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, and league sources have indicated Utah is prepared to offer him a new long-term deal despite aggressive interest from rival teams.

Kessler, 24, opened his fourth NBA season with career-best production before suffering a torn ACL. In five games, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, three assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 70.3% from the field and 75% from three-point range. His efficiency and defensive impact have only strengthened Utah’s resolve to retain him.

The Jazz enter Thursday at 16-35 and are coming off a 131-122 win over the Pacers on Tuesday night. Utah continues a three-game road trip Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 p.m. ET as it evaluates its retooled roster following multiple deadline moves.

Indiana, now 13-38, begins a six-game road trip Friday night against Milwaukee at 8 p.m. ET. While the Pacers found their center of the future in Zubac, Haynes’ report underscores how highly Kessler is valued across the league.

For Utah, declining two unprotected first-round picks reinforces a clear message: even amid major changes highlighted by the Jackson acquisition, Kessler remains a cornerstone of the Jazz’s long-term vision.

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ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the deal shortly before the deadline, confirming Utah’s latest roster move following its recent blockbuster acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. earlier this week.

“The Boston Celtics are trading Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN,” Charania reported.

The move represents another depth-focused addition for Utah after reshaping its frontcourt with the Jackson deal. While the Jazz surrendered significant assets to land Jackson, the Boucher trade signals a complementary approach rather than another headline-grabbing swing as Utah rounds out its rotation.

Boucher, 33, signed with Boston this past summer after spending seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors. His tenure in Toronto included a key role on the Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship team, where his length and energy off the bench made him a valuable frontcourt contributor.

His role diminished this season in Boston. Through nine appearances, Boucher averaged 2.3 points and two rebounds per game, both career lows outside of his rookie campaign. He shot 32 percent from the field and 13.3 percent from 3-point range while playing 10.4 minutes per contest, also career-low marks.

Jazz land Celtics’ Chris Boucher following Jaren Jackson Jr. blockbuster

Boucher last appeared Friday in the Celtics’ 112-93 win over the Sacramento Kings, logging just four minutes and scoring three points. His limited role reflected Boston’s deep frontcourt rotation and contributed to the Celtics’ willingness to move him as the deadline approached.

For Utah, Boucher provides frontcourt depth and flexibility behind Jackson and Walker Kessler, particularly as the Jazz continue to navigate lineup adjustments following multiple trades. His expiring contract also offers financial maneuverability as the organization evaluates its roster beyond the deadline.

The Jazz have remained one of the league’s most active teams in the days leading up to Thursday, making both major and minor moves while positioning themselves for the remainder of the season. The addition of Boucher fits that pattern, giving Utah another experienced option without compromising future flexibility.

Boston, meanwhile, clears a roster spot and minutes within a rotation focused on maintaining depth for a postseason push.

With the deadline now passed, Utah’s flurry of moves — headlined by the Jackson acquisition and capped by the Boucher deal — underscores an aggressive reshaping of the roster as the Jazz look to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term planning.

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“The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Lonzo Ball and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz, sources tell ESPN. Ball’s agent Rich Paul and the Jazz are expected to discuss his future soon,” reported ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania on X, formerly Twitter.

Charania also clarified what will be in store for Ball with Utah.

“The Jazz are expected to waive Lonzo Ball, allowing him to be a free agent, sources tell ESPN,” he reported.

Ball was widely expected to be a trade candidate for the Cavs this year after his shooting numbers had cratered significantly since joining Cleveland via a trade with the Chicago Bulls.

Now, he will be free to sign with another team after being waived by the Jazz.

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints later confirmed that this was part of a larger deal with the Atlanta Hawks that sent Jock Landale to Atlanta.

“…this Lonzo Ball to Utah trade is a 3-team deal that also involved Jock Landale going to the Hawks. Cavs are sending second-round picks in 2028 and 2032 to Utah, who will be waiving Ball,” reported Siegel.

Meanwhile, the Cavs recently added to their backcourt bench depth by acquiring both Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for De’Andre Hunter, meaning they won’t have a void left by Ball in terms of backup point guard minutes.

It remains to be seen whether the Cavs will look to make any more moves before the deadline, but as it is, the team will already look much different the next time they take the court.

The NBA trade deadline is set for Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm ET.

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With the Jazz fielding a depleted roster following their blockbuster trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. and amid the absences of Keyonte George and Jusuf Nurkic, among others, head coach Will Hardy deployed Isaiah Collier for the entire game, playing all 2,880 seconds of game time in their 131-122 win over the shorthanded Indiana Pacers. And Collier, to his credit, responded with the best game of his young career thus far.

Collier put up 17 points, 22 assists, and three steals as he made mincemeat of the Pacers’ defense. He may have been the only point guard active for Utah on the night, but he still made the most of his opportunity.

In so doing, he became the youngest-ever player to drop at least 22 assists in a single game and he became just the first Jazz player to record at least 15 points and 20 assists in a single game since Deron Williams pulled off the feat in 2008, as per ESPN.

Are the Jazz prepared to take the next step in their rise?

Adding Jackson in a blockbuster trade signals the Jazz’s intention to compete moving forward. A frontcourt core consisting of Lauri Markkanen, Jackson, and Walker Kessler is a good starting point for them, while George’s rise into becoming a fringe All-Star talent means that there is something brewing in Salt Lake City.

Add in the fact that young players such as Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh are stepping up, the Jazz may be ready to compete for at least a play-in tournament spot next year.

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According to ClutchPoints, the Jazz remain aggressive on the trade market in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. An NBA insider reported that Utah is exploring opportunities to build upon the Jackson acquisition while also shopping veteran center Jusuf Nurkic and his expiring $19.3 million contract.

“In the immediate aftermath of their acquisition of Jackson, the Jazz remain very active on the trade market and are exploring options to potentially add on to this deal, league sources told @ClutchPoints,” the insider wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Jusuf Nurkic’s expiring $19.3M contract is also being shopped.”

Utah paid a steep price to land Jackson, sending out Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, a 2027 first-round pick via Minnesota, Cleveland or Utah (most favorable), a 2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick and a 2031 Phoenix Suns first-round pick. In return, the Jazz received Jackson, John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr., signaling a clear commitment to retooling their frontcourt and defensive identity.

Jazz commit to Walker Kessler as long-term cornerstone amid trade deadline talks

While speculation has followed about additional roster shakeups, Siegel reported that the Jazz appear firm on one key decision involving center Walker Kessler. In a separate post, the ClutchPoints insider said Utah has no intention of moving Kessler ahead of the deadline.

“The Jazz will NOT be trading Walker Kessler, sources confirm to @ClutchPoints,” the post stated. “All indications point to Kessler, who will be a RFA in the offseason, receiving a new long-term deal from the Jazz.”

Kessler, 24, opened his fourth NBA season with career-best production before suffering a torn ACL. Through five games, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, three assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 70.3% from the field and 75% from 3-point range in 30.8 minutes per contest.

With Jackson now anchoring the lineup and Kessler viewed as a long-term piece, Utah appears positioned to remain active through the Feb. 5 deadline, focused on complementary moves rather than another headline-grabbing swing.

The post NBA rumors: Jazz’s next trade plans, Walker Kessler outlook after Jaren Jackson Jr. blockbuster appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Fans have a right to be disappointed given this core’s potential. Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Ja Morant were sitting in second place last February. Now they all reside in different time zones.

Those picks are not exactly inspiring returns. None seems bound to land in the lottery after all. No offense to any of the players coming back, but it’s hard to see Clayton Jr., Anderson, Hendricks, or Niang moving the needle soon. They definitely will not sell as many tickets. This deal is a B- or C+ at best.

To contextualize the return, it’s worth comparing it to historical trades of star big men. The LA Clippers traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons just months after agreeing to a contract extension. In exchange, the Clippers received Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a protected first-round pick (which later became Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), and a second-rounder.

Where the deal truly underwhelms is in comparison to the 2022 Rudy Gobert trade, which set a modern standard for superstar big-man hauls. The Utah Jazz shipped Gobert (a three-time Defensive Player of the Year) to the Minnesota Timberwolves and received a staggering package. Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler (the No. 22 pick in 2022), plus four unprotected first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027, 2029) and a 2026 pick swap turned heads.

It was a Godfather offer impossible to deny. It’s also the most damning lens through which to view the Jackson Jr. return. It established a market ceiling for elite defensive centers. Now, the Jazz have essentially executed a Defensive Player of the Year swap, replacing Gobert with Jackson Jr., another DPOY winner who offers more offensive versatility and is five years younger.

From a pure asset-management standpoint, the decision to move Jaren Jackson Jr. lands somewhere in the uncomfortable middle of the NBA trade-value spectrum. It’s not a disaster. It’s not a heist, but it hurts too much to be an A-level move. Especially since it all but acknowledges that Ja Morant will not be balling on Beale Street for much longer.

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The full trade details are as follows, per Brett Siegel.

Grizzlies:

G Walter Clayton

Jr. F Taylor Hendricks

F Kyle Anderson

F Georges Niang

2027 MIN/CLE/UTA 1st round pick (more favorable)

2027 LAL 1st round pick

PHX 2031 1st round pick

Jazz:

F Jaren Jackson Jr.

G/F John Konchar

C Jock Landale

F Vince Williams Jr.

Let’s take a look at how the two sides fared in the deal.

Grizzlies’ trade grade

Jackson Jr. is now the second member of the Grizzlies’ once-young core to be moved in the last year, as Desmond Bane was sent to the Orlando Magic in exchange for four first-round picks over the offseason.

Charania also noted that “The Grizzlies have also created a massive $28.8 million trade exception in this deal — the largest ever in the NBA,” citing a report from Bobby Marks.

The Grizzlies now have a whopping 13 first-round picks over the next seven NBA drafts, which is tied for the most in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets, per Marks.

This being the case, it seems that the Grizzlies are all-in on starting over and rebuilding, and they’ve done a great job of acquiring significant future assets in doing so. Clayton Jr. is also an intriguing young player who recently played a major role in the Florida Gators’ run to the national title.

While it remains to be seen what will happen now with Ja Morant, the Grizzlies have done a great job of picking out a clear direction and giving themselves future flexibility.

Grade: A

Jazz’s trade grade

It’s hard to know exactly what Danny Ainge was thinking when he made this trade with the Grizzlies.

Jackson Jr. will certainly help the Jazz a lot in the short term, especially on the defensive end of the floor, where he is regarded as one of the best in the NBA. The tandem of him and Lauri Markkanen figures to go along well with the current trend of positionless basketball, and the Jazz didn’t have to part with any significant pieces from their current team in the process.

Still, first-round picks are an extremely valuable commodity in the NBA, and to part ways with three of them for a player in Jackson Jr., who is likely not going to get much better than he is now is quite baffling. Of course, it helps that the picks aren’t their own, and the team is hoping that they can turn into a formidable team in the wake of this trade, but they do have the unfortunate designation of playing in the highly competitive Western Conference.

Overall, this trade could end up backfiring significantly for Utah if things don’t go according to plan.

Grade: C

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Jackson Jr.’s comments after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves now seem ominous.

“I mean, you’ve got to be a pro about it. If you’re not, then, I mean, there is no if you’re not,” Jackson Jr. stressed. “You have to be a pro every day. Come in to work, do what you are asked, and be ready to play. At the end of the day, being out there on the court is the most fun part of all this. So, get your mind right for that, and let everything play out.”

As for the conversations with under fire owner Robert Pera and Kleiman’s front office? Well, Jackson Jr. was keeping the lines open.

“I talk to them all the time,” Jackson replied. “I probably won’t tell you all that, but that’s the whole point of us talking with y’all (the media) ain’t around so.”

Those talks eventually led to the Rockies. It’ll be a rough road for EVP/GM Zach Kleiman’s Grizzlies as they now pivot to the Ja Morant market. Trading Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three future first-round picks is a clear signal that the rebuild has started.

Jaren Jackson Jr. in a Jazz uniform is hard to picture. However, his last words in the Memphis locker room were hard to ignore. It seems the former Defensive Player of the Year really was ready for some fresh air.

The post Why Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. were talking ‘all the time’ before bombshell trade to Jazz appeared first on ClutchPoints.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on the latest episode of the ALL NBA Podcast that the Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz are among the teams actively exploring minor trades as the deadline nears. According to Stein, the focus for these franchises is roster flexibility rather than pursuing major names.

“Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Utah. Those are three teams that are all very willing to take up and do the kinds of trades that you suggested,” Stein said. “The Nuggets have to make a move like that. If the Raptors don’t make a big move they still have to shed some salary to get under the tax. You’ve got a variety of teams that want to create roster room so they can convert two way players to standard contracts.”

Stein added that he expects activity from the Hornets, Nets and Jazz before the deadline, though none of the moves are projected to significantly alter the broader trade market. With uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks continuing to stall potential blockbuster deals, these teams are viewed as operating independently of the league’s biggest decisions.

Hornets surge while Nets, Jazz weigh trade deadline flexibility

Charlotte enters the week riding one of the league’s hottest stretches. The Hornets improved to 23-28 after a 102-95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, extending their winning streak to seven games. Charlotte is 9-3 over its last 12 contests and currently sits 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hornets begin a two-game road trip Thursday night against the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. ET.

Brooklyn, meanwhile, remains in a rebuilding phase. The Nets are 13-35 and 13th in the East as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Brooklyn has lost 16 of its last 20 games, including a 130-77 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Utah is facing similar struggles in the Western Conference. The Jazz are 15-35, have dropped six straight games and sit 13th in the standings. Utah continues a five-game road trip Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. ET and is 4-16 over its last 20 games.

While none of the three teams are expected to headline deadline coverage, Stein’s report suggests they could still shape the margins of the market with calculated, low-risk moves.

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The Grizzlies are trading Jackson, John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. to the Jazz in exchange for rookie guard Walter Clayton Jr., former first-round pick Taylor Hendricks, and veteran forwards Kyle Anderson and Georges Niang.

The details of this trade were first reported by ESPN.

Three first-round picks are also being traded from Utah to Memphis. The Jazz are surrendering two first-round picks in 2027 and a pick in 2031. Upon this trade being finalized, the Grizzlies will have 13 first-round picks over the next seven years, tied for the most with the Brooklyn Nets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One of the draft picks in 2027 will come by way of the Los Angeles Lakers, while the other will be the most favorable of Utah’s, Minnesota’s, and Cleveland’s picks. The draft pick going from the Jazz to the Grizzlies in 2031 is by way of the Phoenix Suns, an unprotected pick Utah acquired from Phoenix before the trade deadline last season.

Jackson, 26, had become a key topic of discussion throughout NBA circles in the month leading up to the trade deadline, especially with the Grizzlies taking a step back in the Western Conference playoff picture. Amid ongoing conversations about All-Star Ja Morant’s immediate future with the franchise, multiple teams began calling Memphis about Jackson’s status with the organization.

The Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and the Atlanta Hawks were among several teams that had reached out to the Grizzlies, along with the Jazz, to inquire about Jackson leading up to the deadline, league sources told ClutchPoints.

In an effort to cut their long-term costs and continue stockpiling draft picks, the Grizzlies made this trade with the Jazz on Tuesday afternoon. Now, all eyes are on Memphis and their potential decision with Morant before Thursday’s trade deadline.

The Jazz, who rank last in the league in defensive efficiency this season, immediately improve with the addition of Jackson, a three-time All-Defensive frontcourt talent and the 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Jackson joins Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey to form an intriguing core highlighted by their length and rim-protecting abilities. Despite Kesser being a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason, the Jazz are prepared to keep him with a new long-term contract, sources said.

Utah’s newest addition will make $50.5 million during the 2026-27 season, and Jackson still has $156 million on his deal through the 2029-30 season. The final year of his contract contains a player option for $53.5 million.

Currently 15-35 this season, the Jazz will be in the NBA Draft Lottery once again and have a chance to expand on their long-term potential with another high draft pick.

In 45 games this season, Jackson has averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 35.9 percent from 3-point range. He is heavily regarded as one of the league’s best 3-and-D frontcourt talents.

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Jazz fans were thrilled to see it.

ACE BAILEY WITH A ONE-HANDED THROWDOWN

pic.twitter.com/xyQKi2o8Qw

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 31, 2026

Bailey’s slam came in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game, with Utah trailing. He scored 12 points in the game, but the Jazz bowed to the Nets 109-99.

During the contest, Nets rookie Egor Demin set an NBA rookie record by hitting a three-pointer in his 34th consecutive game. He finished the game with 25 points for Brooklyn.

The Jazz struggled on the glass in the contest. Brooklyn won the rebounding battle, 47-33.

“The biggest thing defensively tonight was our physicality with our switching,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said postgame, per the team. “They were able to get us in rotation. But there were some things defensively that gave us a chance to win.”

Utah is now 15-34 on the season, and the club has lost five in a row.

Ace Bailey is putting up some amazing performances for the Jazz

Bailey is now averaging 11 points per game this season for Utah. He has put up some highlight reel dunks for the Jazz throughout the campaign.

The rookie guard was selected fifth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. He played one year at Rutgers in college, where has named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

Bailey is seen as the future for this Jazz team. Utah has been mired in a very disappointing season, struggling to pick up wins. The club’s last victory was against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 20.

Against the Nets, cold shooting doomed Bailey’s Jazz team.

“As always, there’s a lot to learn from the game, and now we hit the road,” Coach Hardy added postgame.

Utah tries to snap its losing streak when it plays the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

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Porter scored 38 points during the Nets’ 107-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. However, he has yet to appear in a back-to-back this season. Friday marks the second time this year he’s been ruled out due to personal reasons.

The Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen (rest), Jusuf Nurkic (illness) and Kevin Love (illness) vs. the Nets. Friday’s matchup has significant implications for the draft lottery standings.

Michael Porter Jr. ruled out for Nets during tank matchup vs. Jazz

Following a seven-game losing streak, the Nets are tied with the Washington Wizards for fourth place in the lottery standings. Both teams are two games ahead of the Jazz, who sit in sixth.

Utah owes the Oklahoma City Thunder its 2026 first-round pick, top-eight protected. The Jazz recently held Markkanen out for seven games due to illness and a return-to-play conditioning period.

Porter has averaged 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.8 percent from three across 38 appearances with Brooklyn. Markkanen has averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from three across 35 appearances this season.

The Jazz and Nets have had little success with their top players sidelined. Utah is 1-12 in games without Markkanen. Meanwhile, Brooklyn is 0-8 with an average margin of defeat of 16.1 points in games Porter has missed.

The Nets will also be without Noah Clowney on Friday due to a lower back ailment.

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Markkanen recently missed seven games due to illness and a return-to-play conditioning period. He returned for the Jazz’s last two matchups, a 115-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday and a 140-124 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

The Jazz star will get the night off during a critical tank matchup with Brooklyn on Friday. He has averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent from three across 35 appearances this season.

Utah is 14-12 with Markkanen in the lineup and 1-12 with him sidelined.

Lauri Markkanen resting for Jazz during tank matchup vs. Nets

The Jazz sit in sixth place in the draft lottery standings amid a 1-8 stretch. They enter Friday’s matchup two games behind the Nets and Washington Wizards, who are tied for fourth. Utah owes its 2026 first-round pick top-eight protected to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Nets have lost seven straight and 15 of their last 17 games. They enter Friday’s matchup on the second night of a back-to-back following a 107-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Michael Porter Jr. is unlikely to play against the Jazz, as he was active against Denver and has not played in a back-to-back all season.

The Nets are 12-26 with Porter in the lineup this season. They’re 0-8 in games he’s missed with an average margin of defeat of 16.1 points.

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For the Jazz, the timing feels revealing. On one hand, one star may return. On the other, one young guard pauses. As a result, fans will feel the tension under the stadium lights. A lineup that has looked thin could finally breathe again if Markkanen steps onto the floor.

Meanwhile, the Jazz sit at No. 13 in the West with a 15–31 record. The slump is clear. The Jazz have won only three of their last ten games and enter on a two-game losing streak, both blowouts against the Spurs and Heat. During that stretch, the offense lost rhythm and the defense lost shape. Markkanen’s shooting and spacing could steady both. His presence draws coverage and opens lanes. Without George, the backcourt must lean on veterans and role players to control tempo and protect possessions.

A night that reveals the Jazz’s direction

The Clippers arrive hot. They sit at No. 10 in the West with a 21–24 record and have won eight of their last ten games, including a blowout of the Nets and a narrow win over the Lakers. Confidence travels with them. Every quarter feels like preparation for April.

For the Jazz, this night sends mixed signals shaped by the latest injury update and a long-term view. Lauri Markkanen’s possible return points toward competition. Keyonte George’s rest suggests caution. One move looks to tonight. The other protects tomorrow. The crowd will sense that tension in every substitution and timeout.

This is more than a January game. It is a snapshot of direction. Are the Jazz chasing momentum or leaning into development and draft position? Under national TV lights, the answer will come fast. One night can spark belief or deepen doubt. The ball will rise, the noise will build, and fans will wait to see what comes next.

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With the string of unfortunate events since trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, fans are eager for any positive development, especially something that would establish a clearer direction for the team.

A core of Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Cooper Flagg is not lacking in talent. But obviously, staying healthy has been the problem. Davis and Irving are out for an extended period, leaving Dallas with a question mark and an uncomfortable truth.

Making a bold roster move could be the way to go for the Mavericks to address issues in the lineup and have a better chance at making a deep run in the playoffs, while also conveying a vision shift.

Dallas Mavericks’ Perfect 2026 NBA Trade Deadline Scenario

While Irving is expected to miss the entire campaign due to an ACL injury, Davis has been the more frustrating one, as fans feel the Mavericks have not really received anything in return for Doncic. The oft-sidelined star has only played 29 games for Dallas. He is out for at least a month due to a hand injury.

Perhaps it is time to cut at the root. Trading Davis means surrendering that they were totally fleeced in sending Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, but it would also signal a clearer vision for the Mavericks centered on Flagg. Moreover, Davis is the last vestige of the era of Nico Harrison, and fans are keen to move on from it.

The Mavericks should send the 32-year-old Davis and a future draft pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Lauri Markkanen, Isaiah Collier, and Brice Sensabaugh. It may not be the popular move compared to other possible scenarios involving Davis, but it is advantageous for Dallas in terms of incentives, timelines, and logic.

Markkanen is the centerpiece of the deal. He is a three-level scorer who stretches defenses, fits multiple lineups, and doesn’t require an offense to be built entirely around him. He could be the perfect partner for Flagg, easing the 19-year-old rookie with the scoring load.

While the 28-year-old Markkanen is not known for his defense, he can hold his own. Besides, Dallas already has Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Derek Lively II—three dependable enforcers—in the frontcourt. Markkanen can fully focus on boosting the offense.

Sensabaugh and Collier, meanwhile, are two upstarts who could make an immediate impact for the Mavericks. Collier could even start, as coach Jason Kidd has been looking for a consistent playmaker to unlock Flagg even further. The 21-year-old Collier is averaging 6.6 assists in just 23.3 minutes off the bench this season.

A starting unit of Gafford, Washington, Markkanen, Flagg, and Collier is more balanced, dynamic, and flexible.

As for Sensabaugh, he could provide instant scoring off the bench, along with Marshall, Klay Thompson, and Max Christie. He has been on a heater as of late, displaying his potential as an offensive weapon.

Anthony Davis to Utah Jazz

With the Jazz having a roster of developing players, Davis could become the gravitational figure. He stabilizes their defense and simplifies their hierarchy on offense. But more importantly, Utah can afford this swing, even though it is a calculated risk.

With the Jazz looking to rebuild, Davis would not be pressured to return to action. He can fully recuperate and serve as a mentor to Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipowski, and Taylor Hendricks.

If Davis could stay healthy for the next few years, then it would be a big bonus for the Jazz. It would show that smart management of assets plus strategic acquisition of a veteran star is a formula any small-market team could replicate.

The post Mavericks’ dream 2026 NBA trade deadline scenario amid Anthony Davis drama appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Markkanen is going through the ninth season of his NBA career, his fourth with the Jazz. He has shined as one of the team’s best players, showcasing prowess with his shooting and rebounding skillset.

However, the star forward has been absent from Utah’s rotation for the last two weeks. He had an injury as an illness followed him, keeping him out of the squad’s last seven games. Despite the recent obstacles, he finally took a turn in the right direction with his availability for the next contest, per reporter Andy Larsen.

“Lauri Markkanen practiced today and is expected to return in tomorrow’s game against LAC,” Larsen wrote.

What’s next for Lauri Markkanen, Jazz

It is great news for the Jazz to have Lauri Markkanen back in the rotation as they prepare for the showdown against the Clippers.

Markkanen is enjoying the best scoring campaign of his career with Utah in Year 4. He is averaging 27.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and one steal per game throughout 33 appearances. He is shooting 48.3% from the field, including 36.5% from beyond the arc, and 88.4% from the free-throw line.

Utah has a 15-31 record on the season, holding the 13th spot in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Sacramento Kings by 3.5 games and New Orleans Pelicans by four games while trailing the Dallas Mavericks by four games and Memphis Grizzlies by 4.5 games.

The Jazz are halfway through a six-game homestand as they gear up for the fourth and fifth matchups of that slate. After their game against the Clippers on Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. ET, they host the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 28 at 9 p.m. ET.

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However, there is talk around the league that the Wizards will try to make a deal with the Jazz for Kessler, according to Sports Illustrated’s Bryson Akins.

“They (Jazz) are optimistic Walker Kessler will be back in Utah, and they have final say due to his restricted free agency…the word around the league is the Wizards are fairing to make him a significant offer,” Akins reported.

The Wizards, who recently acquired Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, could be looking to pair the All-Star guard with the promising 7-foot-2 center. Kessler has averaged a double-double in the last two of his four seasons with the Jazz, including 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game in only five games in 2025-26 before his season-ending shoulder injury.

Walker is expected to see a significant pay raise. The fourth and final season of his rookie contract is worth $4.8 million.

Jazz reportedly turned down trade offers for Walker Kessler

The Jazz are hoping to re-sign Walker Kessler during the offseason when the center will be a restricted free agent. However, that didn’t stop the Pacers from trying, as they’ve made offers recently, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

“Kessler will be a restricted free agent in the summer, and the Jazz continue to signal that they hope to re-sign him after first capitalizing on their projected salary cap space in the offseason… despite the fact that the sides’ negotiations on a rookie scale contract extension before the Oct. 20 deadline for such deals were marked by a significant gulf.

“Yet, the repeated signals emanating from Salt Lake City indicate that Utah wants to keep Kessler have not stopped Indiana from expressing trade interest in the promising big man,” Stein reports.

The Pacers lost their former starting center, Myles Turner, via free agency to the Bucks last summer.

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Nurkic achieved a 16-18-10 triple-double against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the second for a Jazz player in 16 years and the first since Jordan Clarkson in 2024. He then followed it up with a 14-assist triple-double versus the San Antonio Spurs, Utah’s first back-to-back triple-double effort since Pete Maravich in New Orleans

Saturday’s performance gave the 31-year-old his fourth career triple-double, with three coming in just the past week, placing him among the rare group of NBA players to achieve back-to-back-to-back triple-doubles. Nurkic is one of only three players this season, alongside Nikola Jokic and Jalen Johnson, to produce three consecutive triple-doubles. His feat moved him into a tie with Andrei Kirilenko and Karl Malone for the third-most triple-doubles in Jazz history, behind only Pete Maravich (7) and Mark Eaton (6). The Bosnian big man is averaging 11.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks over 26.5 minutes in 36 games this season.

As good as Nurkic was on Saturday, Utah struggled collectively, particularly on the boards. Miami leveraged a massive rebounding advantage, 64-34, with 26 offensive boards translating into 23 points off second-chance plays. It was only the eighth time in franchise history the Heat had recorded 26 or more offensive boards in a game.

The Jazz’s poor shot-making only worsened their situation. Utah converted just seven of 25 attempts from three-point range, including a 0-for-8 outing from Keyonte George and 0-for-5 from Ace Bailey. Brice Sensabaugh led the team with 23 points off the bench. George and Nurkic scored 19 and 17 points, respectively. Only Sensabaugh hit from downtown, making the Jazz’s spacing issues all the more obvious against Miami’s defense, which normally allows 14.1 made threes per game

Utah held its ground early, trailing 35-34 after the opening quarter, with the Heat shooting just 39 percent from the field. However, thanks to their control of the offensive glass, Miami carried a 73-52 lead into the break. The Jazz attempted to rally in the third quarter, shooting 61.5 percent in the frame and scoring 37 points, but the Heat maintained a 19-point cushion heading into the fourth. Utah’s final quarter shooting fell to 29.2 percent, allowing Miami to extend the lead to 29 points before the final buzzer.

The Jazz will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Jazz’ Jusuf Nurkic keeps triple-double streak going in loss to Heat appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Lauri Markkanen injury status vs. Heat

Given Lauri Markkanen is questionable on the injury report, there’s a chance he will be suiting up against the Heat. Markkanen has been a fixure on the injury report these days. Markkanen last played in a 123-122 win against the Cavs on January 12.

The Jazz are 1-5 throughout their six-game stretch without Markkanen, including a 126-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Utah beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-122 on Tuesday.

Markkanen is having one of the best seasons of his career. He’s averaging a career-best 27.9 points on 48.3% shooting, including 36.5% from deep, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game for the Jazz this season. 

Ace Bailey (25 points) and Keyonte George (23 points) combined for 48 points in Thursday’s loss to the Spurs. Perhaps Markkanen’s return will return the Jazz to the winning column. The Jazz are 15-30 on the season, which is the third-worst record in the Western Conference standings.

Still, when it comes to the question is Lauri Markkanen is playing tonight vs. the Heat, the answer is maybe.

Jazz injury report

Walker Kessler — Out — Left shoulder injury recovery

Kevin Love — Out — Left knee contusion

Lauri Markkanen — Questionable — Return to competition reconditioning

Georges Niang — Out — Left foot; fourth metatarsal stress fracture

Jusuf Nurkic — Doubtful — Illness

Heat injury report

Tyler Herro — Out — Right costochondral; injury to the ribs

Jamie Jaquez Jr. — Available — Left knee sprain

Pelle Larsson — Probable — Left 3rd mallet finger

Davion Mitchell — Questionable — Left shoulder sprain

Norman Powell — Questionable — Lower back tightness

Kel’el Ware — Out — Right hamstring

The post Is Lauri Markkanen playing tonight? Jazz vs. Heat injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The official report lists a left forearm strain, and he is officially questionable. In addition to George, Walker Kessler is already out with a left shoulder injury. Lauri Markkanen is out again, as he continues to recover from his illness. Likewise, Georges Niang is out with a left foot injury.

This addition to George is concerning, especially as they prepare to face one of the best teams in the NBA. While the Jazz attempt to stay alive in this playoff race, they must do so amid mounting absences and injuries. Despite the obstacles, there have been highlights. One highlight featured a Jazz upset win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

George has been very instrumental in helping the team compete. Recently, he had 30 points in the 123-110 loss to the Spurs. With the Jazz facing the Spurs almost immediately, they will need George and anyone else who could give them a chance. George had 29 points in the game before that against the Dallas Mavericks.

With the Jazz just 4.5 games behind the final play-in spot, there is still much to play for, as the team looks to make up some ground. At 15-29, the season has not been the greatest. But they could build something if they could beat the Spurs. The decision on George will likely come down to right before game time.

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After the game, George was perusing the stat sheet during his press conference, and saw something that got his attention, accidentally cursing into the microphone right in front of him in the process, via Oh No He Didn’t on X, formerly Twitter.

(NSFW)

Keyonte: "Oh I thought that was me. Oh it was me. Fucking turn… I'm sorry"

Someone in the background: "It's not live" https://t.co/wvZnIX4qAX pic.twitter.com/HEP3EtInlu

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) January 21, 2026

Jazz fans will be quick to forgive the hilarious mishap after the latest high-scoring outburst from George, who has turned into a Most Improved Player candidate this season and is one of the main beacons of hope for a Utah franchise that is hoping to get back into the mix in the Western Conference sooner rather than later.

At the age of 22, George is already moving like an NBA veteran, showcasing an array of difficult shot-making in the game against Minnesota and going shot for shot with Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who scored 38 points in the loss.

With the trade deadline coming up, the Jazz might be more comfortable exploring trades for some of the other talent on their roster now that they know they have a potential rising star in George. It’s not off the table that George could be voted in as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team later this month, as he is averaging 24 points per game this season on solid efficiency.

In any case, the Jazz are next slated to take the floor on Thursday evening at home against the San Antonio Spurs. Tipoff for that game is set for 9:00 pm ET.

The post Jazz’s Keyonte George drops confused F-bomb after career-high game vs. Timberwolves appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Reports indicate that the 28-year-old forward is officially out with an illness. The type of illness is not specified. Markannen is one of six players on the Jazz roster who are ruled out for Thursday’s contest. Elijah Harkless, Walker Kessler, and Georges Niang are all out with injuries, while John Tonje and Oscar Tshiebwe are in the G-League on two-way contracts.

Markkanen, who typically swings between small and power forward, will need to be replaced in the lineup. The Jazz will likely turn to Taylor Hendricks in the power forward position. Kyle Filipowski and Kevin Love may see some additional playing time in Markkanen’s absence.

This will be Lauri Markkanen’s second consecutive missed game due to illness, as he was unavailable in the Jazz’s 128-126 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Not having the 2022-23 Most Improved Player Award winner in the lineup is a worst-case-scenario for Utah right now, as Markkanen has been one of the most consistent players on the team throughout this season.

Through 33 games played so far, the nine-year veteran is averaging 27.9 points (career-high), 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He’s also shooting a 48.3% field goal percentage while going 36.5% from beyond the three-point line. Lauri Markkanen will have a chance to finally return from illness on Saturday, when the Jazz take on the Mavericks once again.

The post Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen out vs. Mavericks due to illness appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Jazz still had a chance to grab the victory, but Keyonte George missed his three-point attempt. They fell to 14-26.

The loss spoiled the strong performance of Brice Sensabaugh, who exploded for a career-high 43 points off the bench. He shot 15-of-22 from the field, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and tallied five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

He scored 21 points in the first quarter, joining Deron Williams as the only players in Jazz history to drop at least 20 markers in the opening period in the play-by-play area, according to the NBA.

21 1Q points for Brice Sensabaugh

He joins Deron Williams (2/27/2010) as the only @utahjazz players to drop 20+ points in a 1Q in the play-by-play era!

Tap to watch: https://t.co/WIunZcQYw4 pic.twitter.com/8X7WzSAlIp

— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2026

It was indeed a memorable evening for Sensabaugh, who has seen his minutes go up and down this season.

Being in the same company as Williams is something to be proud of, as the former star is one of the greatest Jazz players of all time. The shifty guard played for Utah from 2005 to 2011, becoming a two-time All-NBA Second Team member and three-time All-Star.

He teamed up with Carlos Boozer and Memo Okur to lead the team to multiple runs in the playoffs, including a stint in the conference finals in 2007.

The Jazz drafted the 22-year-old Sensabaugh as the 28th overall pick out of Ohio State in 2023. He has continually improved his game, averaging 10.9 points and 3.0 rebounds last season.

But with the arrival of Ace Bailey, he has gotten fewer opportunities, although he has been getting more playing time in recent weeks.

The post Unheralded Jazz player pulls off insane scoring feat last done by Deron Williams appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Jazz upset the Cleveland Cavaliers, 123-112, at Rocket Arena on Monday, and they want to build on it with another victory. Utah beat Chicago in double overtime in their last meeting in November.

The Jazz’s first bucket against the Cavaliers was a beautiful one, as Isaiah Colliers connected with Ace Bailey for the alley-oop slam.

Ace Bailey elevates for the alley-oop JAM pic.twitter.com/n4eBdPP304

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 15, 2026

Bailey is slowly regaining his form after missing several games due to a hip injury. There is no question about his athleticism, as he has displayed since his college days at Rutgers. He, however, needs more experience to learn how to fully harness it.

In 32 games, he is averaging 9.9 points on 43.8% shooting and 3.2 rebounds. Before getting sidelined, his minutes had been increasing, which should only bode well for him. If he regains his conditioning, coach Will Hardy could give him more opportunities.

He only played 15 minutes in their win over the Cavaliers, tallying four points, three rebounds, and two assists. It was only his second game since returning from his hip injury.

Bailey is only 19 years old. The learning curve is high for him. He had a rough start with the Jazz, including all the issues after he was drafted as the fifth overall pick. But if he stays on the right track, he could be a beloved fixture in Utah.

As of writing, the Jazz are trailing the Bulls in the second quarter.

The post Jazz’s Ace Bailey throws it down for alley-oop slam vs. Bulls appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Unfortunately, there’s a chance that Markkanen could miss their game against the Bulls, as he’s now listed on the injury report, according to Sarah Todd of the Deseret News.

“Lauri Markkanen now listed as questionable for tonight’s game in Chicago due to illness. Kevin Love is out (rest),” Todd wrote on Bluesky.

The Jazz have played a few games without Markkanen this season, so they know that it will be next man up if he can’t play.

It’s been another year for the Jazz where they’re leaning into the youth movement and developing the players on the team, and it has led to them being near the bottom of the standings again. There’s no doubt that they have talented players on the roster, but they’re all young and still learning the ins and outs of winning games.

That has made some believe that the Jazz could be sellers once again before the deadline, but if they want to speed up this process of winning, they actually need to be buyers.

Markkanen has been the one player who seems to be in trade rumors almost every season, but the Jazz have elected to keep him. If they want to start winning games sooner rather than later, the best thing is to keep your best player, and put pieces around him to succeed.

It looks like the Jazz have something special in Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey still has some time to develop into the player they expect him to be.

The post Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen a late addition to injury report vs. Bulls appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In the first quarter, the Cavs played a tribute video to commemorate the 2016 NBA champion, among Rocket Arena’s cheers, to which Love pointed to his right ring finger.

Love posted the moment to his Instagram account with the caption, “Cleveland will always be Home 216 THANK YOU for the endless Love F0⃣REVER.”

View this post on Instagram

Following the video of his warm reception, Love shared a highlight of a three-pointer he knocked down in his right-corner spot and a slow-motion shot of walking through security. There are pictures with former Cleveland teammate Larry Nance Jr., longtime Cavs trainer Stephen Spiro, and wine-and-gold star Donovan Mitchell, who Love played alongside for just a few months in his last season in Northeast Ohio.

Fittingly, it was Mental Health Awareness Night, a cause he has championed for over a decade. Monday was a heartwarming reminder of the everlasting bond that Love will share with the city of Cleveland and the Cavs family. It’s remarkable how just a few minutes of a video package can instantly bring back nearly nine years of memories. The wine-and-gold faithful in the building were just as grateful to see their old friend as Love was to see them.

After six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love spent the majority of his NBA career with the Cavs from July 2014 to February 2023. Although he was unable to participate in the first, Cleveland went on to appear in four straight NBA Finals after arriving via trade to team up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

Love still holds the franchise record for the most individual points (34), field goals made (11), and threes made (8) in a single quarter, all of which happened in the opening frame at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 23, 2016. He’s tied for the record for most triples made (8), rebounds (16), and defensive boards (15) in a half, too.

In terms of the postseason, Love is tied with JR Smith for the most three-balls (8) in a playoff game and has the record for the most in a playoff half (7). He also recorded a Cavs organization-high 21 rebounds on the road vs. the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals. In that same series, Love tied a franchise-best mark with six steals in Game 3 at Rocket Arena.

The post Kevin Love points to ring finger as Cavs fans applaud his Cleveland return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“They came in there and just outplayed us. It started with Keyonte George, who deserves to be an All-Star,” Mitchell said postgame. “A young fella that I know personally, and I’m excited to see his progress just from last year to this year. The coach he works with is a close friend of mine, so to see them continue to take that step, it’s amazing to see. I’m happy for ’em.”

George is averaging an impressive 23.8 points, 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and one steal per game on .454/.372/.906 shooting splits in over 34 minutes a night. Coming off the most lopsided loss of their season, the Jazz bounced back to start a five-game road trip with an impressive victory over the talented, yet inconsistent Cavs. As Mitchell indicated, the third-year guard was all over the floor and a big reason why Utah responded to a 55-point home drubbing by the Charlotte Hornets.

Jazz head coach Will Hardy was impressed by George’s 25-point second half, which started with a 16-point third quarter and culminated with clutch shot-making in the final frame. A reporter asked about the similarities between George and Mitchell, who made his first All-Star Game in his third year.

“His ability to create offense for us continues to show for us, especially when the game slows down,” Hardy said postgame. “Keyonte’s having a great season. Donovan is a heck of a player. I have so much respect for him, the way he’s carried himself during his career. The way that he plays, I mean, he’s spectacular. But Keyonte’s running his race, and I think that has to be Keyonte’s focus.

“I recognize that our league is full of comparisons, and that’s for other people to do. Fans can do those things if they’d like, and media can do those things if they’d like. But my hope is that, for us, we stay focused as a group and individually on what we have to do to continue to get better. I think that there’s a little bit where that can make Keyonte feel good because it’s being compared in a positive way, but at the same time, I want Keyonte to stay focused on just being Keyonte.”

We’ll see if history repeats itself in Salt Lake City. Regardless, George has a fan in Mitchell and plenty of support from the Jazz as he continues to grow.

The post Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell gives young Jazz guard strong NBA All-Star endorsement appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Markkanen may not be the kind of ball-dominant star one would think of as the prototypical leader of a team, but his gravity off the ball and his burgeoning connection with breakout star Keyonte George has been the Jazz’s lifeline all season long. The Jazz forward put up 28 points on 8-16 shooting from the field in his return to the lineup, and he credited the entire team for playing so well together.

“Just play together and play hard. … It’s a tough team and always tough to win on the road so a good win for us,” Markkanen told Jazz sideline reporter Lauren Green after the game. “It’s a constant progress [on defense]. We’ve shown we can do it. It’s just about doing it consistently. And tonight was a good night to show that we can do it again, and against a good team.”

“Just play together and play hard… It’s a tough team and always tough to win on the road so a good win for us.”

Drop 28, get the win at your old house and get the mic for the #WalkoffInterview (with a special guest)

All in a night's work for Finland's finest #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/gwA6oxiEZ3

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 13, 2026

Jazz just need to hit big on the draft

The Jazz are putting together a quality young core, with Markkanen leading the way and George, who put up a game-high 32 points, breaking out in his third season in the league. But there remain so many question marks around the rest of the roster.

Ace Bailey has been up and down in his rookie campaign. No one from the likes of Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, Taylor Hendricks, and Kyle Filipowski have truly separated themselves as a long-term keeper. While time is on the Jazz’s side, hitting big on this year’s draft is paramount for their hopes of taking the next step in their rebuild.

The post Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen shares immediate reaction to Cavs upset appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In fact, George is approaching a level of scoring for the Jazz that is eerily reminiscent of Utah’s former franchise cornerstone in Donovan Mitchell, who ironically is with the Cavs now. As noted by StatMuse, George is the first Jazz guard to record double-digit games with 30 points or more in a single season since Mitchell did in his final season with the team. This is no mean feat, as the season isn’t even halfway over just yet.

George has become one of the most difficult scorers to stop in the association when he gets going, and he’s expanded his game enough (he recorded nine assists as well in the win over the Cavs) that opposing defenders simply scratch their heads sometimes when trying to figure out how to slow him down.

Keyonte George’s breakout means one fewer position for Jazz to fill

The Jazz have been searching for pieces to put around Lauri Markkanen for the past few years, and George has been the best player the team has developed ever since they decided to rebuild back in 2022 with the Mitchell and Rudy Gobert trades.

Utah has been putting together a solid enough young core, and with George breaking out as a fringe All-Star-level talent, the Jazz front office can at least focus their resources towards looking for their superstar player on the wing who could take this team from plucky to consistently good.

The post Keyonte George pulls off rare Jazz feat last done by Donovan Mitchell appeared first on ClutchPoints.

That 150-95 loss was so brutal that Jazz head coach Will Hardy was simply left frustrated, and one player in particular in sophomore forward Cody Williams ended up making history in terms of personal futility. Williams, the brother of Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams, ended up posting the worst individual plus-minus in a single game in NBA history with minus-60.

The Thunder star then came to the defense of his brother, saying that he too posted some historic futility in plus-minus, during the NBA Finals no less, and yet he still won a title — explicitly stating how useless of a stat single-game plus-minus is.

“He played well… Let’s highlight that, I had a -40 and won a Finals, plus minus a useless stat,” the Thunder forward wrote as a response to a comment on Instagram mocking the Jazz sophomore.

Jalen Williams on his brother, Cody, having the lowest plus/minus in NBA history of -60 vs. Hornets:

“He played well… Let’s highlight that, I had a -40 and won a Finals, plus minus a useless stat.”

(via @LeagueAlerts) pic.twitter.com/0IOkzK4GK8

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 12, 2026

Can Cody Williams find his footing with the Jazz?

Williams has endured a ton of growing pains in his first year and a half in the NBA; the Jazz sophomore has struggled so much at times that he hasn’t featured as a major part of the team’s rotation.

Nonetheless, he did start on Monday night in their win over the Cavs (Markkanen and company were active), and he’s been getting more opportunities as of late. He hasn’t yet provided the impact one would expect from a top-10 pick, but he’s only 21 years of age, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt as he grows into his role in the league.

The post Thunder’s Jalen Williams rips ‘useless stat’ in defense of brother appeared first on ClutchPoints.

To that end, the Warriors have been rumored to have taken a close look at burgeoning New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy. Murphy has expanded his game quite considerably and he’s now become one of the best off-ball scorers in the association, making him a much-better fit on the Warriors roster than Kuminga ever was.

The Pelicans, however, have stated that they intend to keep their core together, which means that Murphy is expected to stay in the Big Easy past the trade deadline. However, the Warriors could try and change their mind with an offer that meets their asking price.

ESPN put together a hypothetical three-team trade that brings Murphy to the Bay and Kuminga to the Big Easy, with the Utah Jazz making a cameo appearance to facilitate a salary dump. Does that trade make sense for every team involved? Here are ClutchPoints’ grades for that hypothetical deal.

ESPN’s hypothetical Warriors-Pelicans-Jazz trade involving Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Murphy

Warriors acquire: Trey Murphy, Jordan Hawkins

Pelicans acquire: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, 2026 first-round pick (via Warriors), 2028 first-round pick (via Warriors, top-10 protected), 2030 first-round pick (via Warriors, if No. 5 to 20)

Jazz acquire: Kevon Looney, 2031 second-round pick (via TOR), 2032 second-round pick (via NOP), cash considerations

Warriors mortgage future, bet on Trey Murphy’s blossoming star power

Murphy is on a four-year deal with the Pelicans, and he’s set to make $112 million during that time frame. In today’s NBA, that is quite the bargain for a player of his caliber. He’s currently averaging 21.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per contest on 50/39/90 shooting splits, and the way he gets those buckets makes him a solid fit on any team in need of a non-ball dominant yet very efficient scorer.

This is why it’s not too big of a surprise to hear that the Pelicans aren’t very inclined to trade someone like Murphy away. He’s only 25 years of age as well, so it’s not like he doesn’t belong on New Orleans’ contending timeline that’s trending towards the younger side. When the likes of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears hit their prime, Murphy should still be a very productive player, and on such an affordable deal as well.

This is why ESPN has the Warriors parting ways with three first-round picks just to secure Murphy’s services. The Pelicans, despite being one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, have so much leverage in trade talks that it would take a king’s ransom for them to part ways with one of their core talents.

As for the Dubs, they might be better off seeking an alternative option on the trade market than to go all-in for Murphy. Golden State’s front office has also shown no inclination over the years that they would be aggressive; if they did, then they would have done so a long time ago. Alas, they’ve been trying to at least insure the team in the post-Stephen Curry world, so it doesn’t quite make as much sense for them to part ways with that many future firsts.

That 2030 first-round pick is something that they would want to keep; as things stand, they have a solid chance of keeping that pick anyway (they keep it if it falls within 1-20). If the season were to end today, they would have the 16th overall pick of the draft. It’s hard to imagine them being that much better in four years, as Murphy isn’t the kind of player who can carry teams since he’s too reliant on his teammates for his production.

Jordan Hawkins could be a good reclamation project for the Warriors, but they’re not in a position to be giving him minutes anyway as they are in full urgency mode to try and compete for a title while Curry’s still very productive.

Murphy is a good player, but at this price point, it’s hard to see the Warriors deciding to push through with this deal. They might be better off trying to acquire Michael Porter Jr., someone who’s making nearly $40 million and whose contract is set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 campaign. Porter would cost the Dubs fewer assets, and one could argue that he’s playing better than Murphy is anyway.

Grade: C

Pelicans have to be very high on Kuminga to make this trade

Kuminga is such a polarizing player; some believe that he’s an empty calories player who only gets his numbers on undertalented teams. However, some still think that he possesses so much untapped potential that could be brought out in the right situation.

But do the Pelicans think of Kuminga that highly to begin with that they would want to part ways with Murphy for someone with as many question marks as the Warriors forward?

Acquiring three first-round picks for Murphy is quite the get for the Pelicans. But those picks, as long as Curry is healthy and productive, aren’t likely to be any higher than 14 or 15 at worst. The 2030 first-round pick could be a huge get, but it’s protected anyway from picks one through five, capping the upside on such a return.

Meanwhile, Kuminga is a slasher who needs the ball in his hands. He can shoot from midrange and hit occasional three-pointers, but he’s at his best when he’s commandeering possession and maneuvering towards the basket. That, however, is Zion Williamson’s job. The Pelicans also already have Queen and Fears to command possession, while Dejounte Murray is another mouth to feed when he returns.

If the Pelicans are looking to engineer a quick turnaround next season, just keeping Murphy would suffice. Kuminga does not fit at all on this roster, and he’s not going to get an opportunity to be the star he believes he could be if he lands in New Orleans.

Moody is a solid piece to have for the Pelicans, but at this point, New Orleans is better off keeping Murphy. A trade package that involves multiple first-round picks should always be available for them as far as Murphy goes, but acquiring a player who’s a much better fit on the team should be a priority if they were to trade the 25-year-old 3-and-D wing away.

The Pelicans seem very confident in their core, and while competing in the West will be very difficult moving forward, keeping Murphy, at least until the offseason, seems to be the best course of action.

Grade: C+

Jazz benefit yet again from other teams making trades

If there’s a big winner in this entire thing, it’s the Jazz. They get two second-round picks as well as cash considerations just to absorb Kevon Looney’s contract that runs until the 2026-27 campaign on their books.

Utah is not going anywhere anytime soon, especially when factoring in the fact that they just lost by 55 points to the Charlotte Hornets. Using their cap space to add even more draft assets still remains very astute. The Jazz have plenty of avenues to create cap space this offseason as well, and Looney should not be too big of an obligation to take on anyway considering that Utah can simply decline his team option for next season.

Grade: A

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From a distance, Jazz wing Cody Williams appeared to have a relatively solid game in this one, scoring 15 points to go along with two rebounds. However, Williams made some unfortunate NBA history by posting a plus-minus of -60, which is the worst in the last 30 years of tracking data, per BasketNews, via Hoopshype.

The previous record of -58 was shared by two players.

Overall, plus-minus can be a misleading stat and is generally taken with a major grain of salt, but it still wasn’t a great sign for Williams to be on the wrong end of that bit of NBA trivia.

Things fell apart essentially from the opening tipoff on Saturday night for the Jazz, with Utah falling behind 39-8 early in the first quarter, with things somehow only getting worse from there.

The Jazz were outscored in every quarter, and their effort level did not improve in the slightest as the game wore on.

Overall, it’s been a rough few years for the Jazz since they traded Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the 2022 offseason, with the team not having made the playoffs since then and suffering through some ugly performances, but Saturday’s listless effort against the Hornets might just have brought the team down to a new low.

In any case, the Jazz will look to get back on track when they hit the road on Monday night to take on Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tipoff for that game is set for 7:00 pm ET from Cleveland.

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