Cody Williams Showing Flashes Of Brilliance Battling Blazers

SALT LAKE CITY—The development of Utah Jazz 2024 first-round draft pick Cody Williams is beginning to bear fruit after the all-star break. Williams’s athleticism is popping against Portland in the first period.

The Jazz (14-42) host the Trail Blazers (24-33) at Delta Center on Monday, February 24. Utah is 95 games behind Portland and is squarely in the second-to-last position in the Western Conference.

RELATED: Utah Jazz Vs. Portland Trail Blazers Live Blog

this is a cody williams appreciation tweet 🫶 pic.twitter.com/I8eIJaZhXm

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

With five Jazz regulars unavailable, Williams is in line to get some critical developmental minutes tonight. In his first stint on the floor, the former Colorado Buffalo showed off his first step, streaking past a defender for an easy layup.

Moments later, Williams played a mouse in the house with Anfernee Simons, banking a short hook shot home. His third bucket came when the fleet-footed forward beat the defense down the floor for a transition layup.

The All-Star break was really good for Cody Williams.

He's come back with a lot more confidence.

Looks more like the player he was at Colorado, good defense, opportunistic drives, finding rebounds and teammates.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 25, 2025

He added four rebounds and three assists in nine minutes, showing glimpses of his all-around ability.

The tenth pick in June’s draft averages four points and 2.1 rebounds in 31 games.

Utah leads the Trail Blazers 33-32 after one quarter.

Utah Jazz Injury Report

OUT – Lauri Markkanen (back)

OUT – Walker Kessler (illness)

OUT – John Collins (back)

OUT – Collin Sexton (ankle)

OUT – Jordan Clarkson (foot)

OUT – Taylor Hendricks (leg)

Portland Trail Blazers Injury Report

OUT – DeAndre Ayton (calf)

OUT – Matisse Thybulle (ankle)

OUT – Robert Williams III (knee)

Rookies Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams must step up tonight, with Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Walker Kessler sitting out. Point guard Collin Sexton is still working his way back from an ankle injury suffered before the All-Star break.

that game day feeling ◡̈ pic.twitter.com/vq24xKuFpi

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2025

With the quartet in street clothes, the Jazz need to replace more than 67 points, nearly 30 rebounds, and 10 assists from their production.

Expect a more burdensome load for Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabuagh.

Trailblazers Look To Recapture Winning Momentum

The Trailblazers face the Jazz, who have lost four of their last five. However, they are trying to recapture the momentum they lost entering the All-Star break.

Before bookending the mid-season hiatus with four losses, Portland had won nine out of 10 games, inserting their name into the play-in tournament conversation.

more hoops 🤲 pic.twitter.com/uGQpL5koJR

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 24, 2025

Even with their recent struggles, the Trailblazers sit just 4.5 games back of the Sacramento Kings for the 10th seed in the West.

Jazz-Blazers Gameday Reading

• Updated Jazz Injury Report Before Hosting Trail Blazers

• Jazz Beat Rockets Led By Keyonte George’s 30 Point Night

• George, Collier, Martin Combine For Highlight Dunk

• Jazz Fall To Thunder In First Game After All-Star Break

• Williams Brothers Swap Jerseys After Jazz-Thunder Game

• Ryan Smith On Rebuild: “We’re Hoping To Do Something Different From Jazz History”

• Brice Sensabaugh Gets Engaged Over All-Star Break

• Next 10 Games Are Most Important Stretch Of Jazz Season

• Report: Jazz Sign Former Tennessee Guard To 10-Day Contract

• Jazz Mailbag: Should Team Have Kept Mitchell Or Gobert?

• Keyonte George Nails Three In All-Star Game With Rising Stars Squad

• Keyonte George Hits Rising Stars Championship Game-Winner

• John Stockton Reacts To Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Shoutout

• Utah Jazz Mailbag: How Does 2025 Draft Impact Current Youth?

• Isaiah Collier Sets Utah Jazz History In First Half Against Suns

Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

Tonight’s game against the Trailblazers is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on SEG+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.

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. 

Find sports.ksl.com coverage of the Utah Jazz here.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram at @bpreece24. 

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