On March 10, the Utah Jazz found themselves at the bottom of the standings with a mark before their name — a mark you earn when you’re eliminated from postseason contention. While becoming the first team to be eliminated can be quite gloomy, one can always look back at the team’s highlights and, at the same time, be excited about their future.
The Rise of KG
Keyonte George has been scoring a lot lately, and it’s no longer a surprise to see him score 25 points in a game. The former Baylor Bear even hit a game-winning shot during the Rising Stars Tournament in last month’s All-Star Weekend. That had to be a memorable moment for him.
Future Defensive Ace
Say “hi” to Walker Kessler. He is currently Utah’s master blocker. Kessler had multiple games with four or more blocks. Plus, who can forget his six-block and eight-block performances? Players must think twice before making a lay-up next season. By the time his team was eliminated, Kessler ranked second in blocks per game behind Victor Wenbanyama.
Walker Kessler in the first half vs. Toronto:
6 PTS
18 (!!) REB
3 BLK pic.twitter.com/irveh9auxt— theScore (@theScore) March 8, 2025
Time to Experiment
One of the perks of being out of contention early? The chance to experiment. Coach Will Hardy can now deploy different lineups in the remaining games. Young players can have more playing time while the veterans rest up. Trying out new plays without the pressure of losing must be refreshing for the coaching staff.
The 22-2 Run
The lowly Jazz lost to the Los Angeles Lakers three times during the regular season. Surely they would have a hard time winning the fourth encounter, right? Wrong. A 22-2 run in the third quarter fueled Utah to grab a 25-point lead, earn the win, and avoid the season sweep.
the streak stops here 🏔️#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/bU4PLdLBzi
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 13, 2025
Close Calls
Three games stood out that had us holding our breaths. The first was Utah’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks where John Collins made two dunks in the final minute to win by two. Then, they had a one-point win over the Brooklyn Nets thanks to Isaiah Collier’s game-winning lay-up. Lastly, Kessler made a dunk on the Minnesota Timberwolves that led to a one-point win.
At the time of the Jazz’s elimination, they were at the 15-win mark. It could have been 12 if they didn’t win a few of their nail-biting games.
Main Image Credit: Utah Jazz/NBA.com
