Bucks Extend Jazz Losing Streak To Six Games
Jan 27, 2025, 10:30 PM | Updated: Jan 28, 2025, 9:57 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz dropped their sixth straight game falling at home to the Milwaukee Bucks 125-110.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 70 points to lead the Bucks, while Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen each scored 19 for the Jazz.
Game Blog: Bucks Stars Carry Milwaukee Past Jazz
Jazz Miss Collins, Kessler In Loss To Bucks
There are few teams in the NBA better equipped to punish a shorthanded frontcourt than the Bucks, and Milwaukee wasted little time punishing the Jazz for the absence of Walker Kessler (shoulder) and John Collins (illness).
Kessler and Collins are the Jazz’s leading shot blockers, and without them on the floor, the Bucks took advantage at the rim.
Giannis with a freaky stat line tonight.
35 PTS | 18 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL | 70% FG pic.twitter.com/GgVoUJSiuq
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 28, 2025
“With a player like Giannis, and a guy like Dame, if you get blown by in a straight line, you’re in a really, really tough spot,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “Everybody, to a man, has to do a better job guarding individually.”
Fueled by Antetokounmpo’s 35 points, the Bucks outscored the Jazz 64-42 in the paint while shooting 40-52 inside the three-point line.
The Jazz won the three-point battle outscoring the Bucks by 18 points on the perimeter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 34-point difference inside the arc.
“We’ve got to become a little bit more connected in executing our game plan and knowing what we’re doing,” Markkanen said.
Lauri Markkanen on the @utahjazz’s defensive issues against the @bucks.
Jazz were outscored 64-42 inside the paint. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wm3MuDdhg0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 28, 2025
Against Milwaukee, the Jazz struggled to contain the lead ballhandler, either resulting in an easy finish at the basket, or a kick out to an open shooter.
“The whole point was to try to protect the paint for which we didn’t do that well,” Markkanen said.
In Collins and Kessler’s absence, Drew Eubanks and Micah Potter got the start. The duo combined for seven points, 14 rebounds, and a block on 3-16 shooting.
Hardy Explains Keyonte George’s Move To Bench
Keyonte George was removed from the Jazz’s starting lineup in Saturday’s blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and remained with the second unit against the Bucks.
George had started in his 59 previous appearances with the Jazz, including his first 32 games of the year this season.
“He needs to improve his on-ball defense,” Hardy said bluntly. “He’s still going to be involved in a ton of actions, he’s still going to be playing a bunch of minutes, but it’s really about just right now him recognizing which things are most important for him to be focused on.”
patience is key 🔐 pic.twitter.com/evo3ndk9Ys
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2025
George’s 121.9 defensive rating entering Monday night was the worst on the Jazz, and the worst by any player in the NBA to appear in at least 30 games this season.
“Individual defense is one, team defense is number two, and both those things are sort of encapsulated by just the overall competitiveness on every play,” Hardy added. “His talent is obvious. We can all see that when we watch him play. And I think right now this is what’s best for him and the team.”
In his place, rookie Isaiah Collier has been moved into the Jazz starting lineup, due in part to his effort on the defensive end.
“I think his physicality has been really good, I think his ball pressure has been okay,” Hardy said.
Collier has a defensive rating of 117.3, second behind Collin Sexton among the Jazz’s regular guard rotation.
🏔️ took that one from lehi to downtown 🏔️#TakeNote | @isaiahcollier04 pic.twitter.com/iY9dPKdS9D
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2025
Though George has a height advantage over Collier, the rookie has superior strength and quickness.
“Isaiah is not the tallest guy in the world, and so his ability to get up underneath guys and contain the ball is what’s going to be most important for him to be impactful defensively,” Hardy concluded.
Against Milwaukee, George recorded 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes, while Collier added 12 points, two rebounds, and eight assists in 28 minutes.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will travel to Golden State to face the Warriors on Tuesday at 8 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.
