Ace Bailey Scores 20 For Utah Jazz After Rising Stars Snub

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points to lead all scorers as the Clippers secured their 16th win in 19 games.

The loss moved the Jazz to 15-32 on the season.

Jazz Miss George, Nurkic Against Clippers

The Jazz played without two key offensive players as Keyonte George (rest) and Jusuf Nurkic (illness) sat out.

Nurkic had recorded three straight triple-doubles, averaging 16.7 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. George has produced All-Star-level numbers all year, ranking second on the team in points and assists per game.

Without them, coach Will Hardy detailed what the team lacked.

“Nurk does a lot for us, and I think as much as we’ve talked about him lately, with the triple-doubles, the rebounding, the screening, just the eating up space around the basket, is something that’s really valuable to our team,” Hardy said.

hit ’em with the 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑒 then, big fella! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/E0c9o6e43j

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2026

Nurkic is Utah’s top rebounder this season and the second-heaviest player in the NBA at a listed 290 pounds, a valuable asset against the Clippers big frontcourt.

In his absence, Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson defended Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez. They were outscored 21-11 but outrebounded the Clippers 21-12.

Isaiah Collier played well, filling in for George, finishing with 12 points and nine assists, but the Clippers game-planned for a less dynamic offense and focused attention on a less experienced Jazz offense.

“Tonight, those guys are going to be probably facing one matchup higher than they’re used to, and getting a little bit more focus on them,” Hardy said.

Lauri Markkanen struggled in his return after missing seven games with illness, scoring 19 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Jazz Not Concerned About Ace Bailey’s Rising Stars Snub

Ace Bailey was the most notable omission from the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge roster on Monday. He was the only top-nine pick from the 2025 draft not selected.

Some may view it as a snub, but others point to the modest, development-focused role the Jazz have given Bailey rather than seeking flashy rookie stats.

“We don’t set out in the season as a goal of ours is to get Ace in the Rising Stars Challenge,” Hardy said. “We want to help Ace get through this season and help him be a way better player by the end than he started.”

calm, cool and collected buckets 🧘‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/B6BIp78Om5

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2026

Related: Ace Bailey Snubbed For Rising Stars Challenge

Bailey has steadily improved through his first 39 games. His averages rose from 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in his first 20 games to 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in his last 19 games before facing the Clippers.

The Jazz were protective of Bailey early in his career as he recovered from an illness and knee tendonitis that kept him out of much of the preseason and put him on a minutes restriction to start the year.

Even after being cleared, the Jazz have avoided putting a heavy load on the 19-year-old, opting for a controlled developmental path rather than giving Bailey carte blanche.