Jazz Fall To 16-56 After Loss To Cavaliers
Mar 23, 2025, 5:11 PM
Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz and Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-91 on Sunday afternoon, falling to 1-3 to open their six-game homestand.
Kyle Filipowski led the Jazz with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while the Cavaliers snapped their four-game losing streak behind 18 points from Jarrett Allen.
Game Blog: Jazz Fall To Cavaliers
What Do Jazz Hope To See For Final 10 Games Of Season?
After Sunday’s loss, the Jazz have just 10 games left to play before finishing the 2024-25 season.
With just 16 wins, the Jazz have no incentive to hurt their lottery odds but still have plenty to play for over the next three weeks.
“With young players, because they are trying so hard to improve and they’re trying so hard to establish themselves, I think sometimes our body language sucks, and I want our team to not give in,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said.
Walker Kessler on how to approach the final 10 games of the season. #Takenote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/k5Xl9rUd1i
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 23, 2025
Filipowski had one of his best performances of the season, but both Isaiah Collier (seven points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Cody Williams (three points, one rebound, 1-9 shooting) had more forgettable showings.
“They’re about the right things, and they care a lot, but you can take all that away from a group within a very short window of time if you just let it all go,” Hardy said. “I want our team to keep the same fabric that they’ve had all year. I want them to keep competing for our fan base.”
The Jazz have four games left at home and six on the road.
Cooper Flagg Vs. VJ Edgecombe
While the Jazz were playing the Cavaliers, two players who could be key pieces of their future faced off in the NCAA Tournament with likely top-five picks Cooper Flagg and CJ Edgecombe going head to head in the round of the 32.
Barring a major surprise, Flagg will be the top overall pick in June’s draft, while Edgecombe will likely be selected somewhere between three and five.
Flagg is one of the most complete prospects ever to enter the NBA draft and has no true discernable weakness in his game.
COOPER FLAGG PURE pic.twitter.com/ms1waSDd8z
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2025
The freshman leads Duke in all major categories, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Like all 19-year-olds, Flagg will have to develop his game to reach stardom in the NBA, but with his varied skillset, he’ll have multiple pathways to become a franchise player for whoever drafts him.
Edgecombe is a far more traditional lottery pick, one who has avenues that could make him a star in the mold of Victor Oladipo, but will have to develop in specific areas to reach his potential.
The Baylor freshman is the best athlete in the draft, and regularly shows off his impressive explosion on both ends of the floor.
VJ EDGECOMBE GETS UP 😤#MarchMadness @BaylorMBB pic.twitter.com/MQk5ydRuV5
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
It’s also telling that in late-game situations, head coach Scott Drew has drawn up plays to get the ball in Edgecombe’s hands.
The guard is shooting a healthy 34 percent from the three-point line but has been streaky as a freshman. His 3.3 assists per game are a good number, especially for a shooting guard, and will likely improve with better talent around him.
Edgecombe’s biggest weakness at this point is his shot creation off the dribble and the skill that could elevate him from good to great once he reaches the NBA.
Regardless, both Edgecombe and Flagg are likely to be major contributors on the defensive end in the NBA, something the Jazz will need to prioritize as they take steps to exit their rebuild.
The Jazz have offensive talent throughout the roster, but outside of Walker Kessler, only Cody Williams and Taylor Hendricks project as positive defenders going forward.
Flagg finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and six Assists in Duke’s 89-66 win over the Bears to advance to the Sweet 16.
Edgecombe recorded 16 points and six rebounds in what should be his final college game.
Next Broadcast
The Jazz will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
