Trae Young Crushes Jazz Hopes With Half-Court Game-Winner

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz thought Collin Sexton had forced overtime with a late three off a broken play, tying the game at 121 with 2.9 seconds left. Trae Young had other ideas as the long-distance sniper pulled up from just beyond half-court, launching a shot that tickled the twine, giving Atlanta the 124-121 win.

The unbelievable final sequence began when Utah’s inbounds pass was knocked away. Sexton tracked the loose ball down before nailing a wing three over a defender to tie the game with 2.9 seconds left. With no timeouts, Atlanta inbounded to Trae Young, who pulled up beyond the halfcourt stripe and touched nothing but net to send the stunned Jazz home with a loss.

🏔️ Ready to make a statement 🏔️

⏰ 7:00PM MT
📺 KJZZ | JAZZ+
📻 @kslsportszone
📍 @deltacenter
🎟️ https://t.co/n4WuMjSiYS#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wL9oldzbHJ

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 7, 2025

Clarkson will be reevaluated in two weeks. John Collins and Keyonte George are also out tonight. Sensabaugh and all-star forward Lauri Markkanen are questionable.

Atlanta enters as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. 4-6 in their last ten games, the Hawks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Road losses to Denver and both Los Angeles teams dropped Atlanta to .500 for the season.

Trae Young’s 22.5 points per game lead the Hawks, followed by 19.8 from forwards Jaylon Johnson and De’Andre Hunter.

Pregame

Jazz Injury Report:

*QUESTIONABLE – Brice Sensabaugh (illness)

QUESTIONABLE – Lauri Markkanen (low back spasms)

OUT – Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis)

OUT – John Collins (personal reasons)

OUT – Keyonte George (left heel inflammation)

OUT – Taylor Hendricks (right…

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 7, 2025

The @utahjazz are debuting their new black Statement uniforms tonight.

For now, you can only buy the jerseys online, but the shorts are available in the team store. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/LK680j4rod

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2025

LISTEN LIVE: @utahjazz are at home as they welcome Quin Snyder and the @ATLHawks to Delta Center on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/JmKKTz0iKM pic.twitter.com/ZX8mQmKS4K

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

First Quarter

rookie splash to get us started ☔️#TakeNote | @isaiahcollier04 pic.twitter.com/czkuZI7qJC

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2025

The Hawks are getting whatever they want at the rim right now.

They're not even having to consider three-point shots because the paint is open.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2025

Solid early play from Kyle Filipowski who has three points, a rebound, and an assist as the @utahjazz trim the @ATLHawks lead to 9, 32-23 with three minutes left in the first. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/KkkNLRNr8b

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

RELATED: Patty Mills Catches Fire To End First Quarter

Through 12 minutes the @utahjazz trail the @ATLHawks 36-32.

Patty Mills scores the last nine points of the quarter for the Jazz to keep it close. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

Second Quarter

Tonight is a good example of Cody Williams continuously being in the right places, but not being physically able to win loose balls or rebounds.

He ends up with an empty stat sheet, but I do think he's doing some of the right things.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2025

and that's what happens when you try to meet Walker at the summit 🚧⛰️ pic.twitter.com/sSUloZela6

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2025

With 4:11 left in the half the @utahjazz trail the @ATLHawks.

Lauri Markkanen has a game-high 20 points. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/SkcM2qZUJq

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

RELATED: Lauri Markkanen Barrage Keeps Jazz Close Against Atlanta

At the break the @utahjazz trail the @ATLHawks 65-62.

The Jazz shot 12-25 from three in the first half. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/n46eSlTpzv

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

Third Quarter

With 6:53 left in the third the @ATLHawks lead the @utahjazz 80-76.

Jazz continue to shoot the ball well, knocking down 3-7 from deep in the quarter. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/gKEzatkARf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

it's the first pump for us 🙂‍↕️#TakeNote | @Collinsexton02 pic.twitter.com/aKnVdlPbYk

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2025

The Jazz and Hawks are having nearly totally opposite nights.

Nobody on the Jazz is shooting well expect Lauri Markkanen, and his 30 points are keeping the game close.

Everyone on the Hawks is shooting well, minus Trae Young, and his shooting is the reason the game is close.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2025

The Jazz lineup right now is Patty Mills, Cody Williams, Johnny Juzang, Micah Potter, and Drew Eubanks.

The Hawks lineup is Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, DeAndre Hunter, Garrison Mathews, and Onyeka Okongwu.

Hawks have been unable to make any separation on the scoreboard.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2025

The @utahjazz trail the @ATLHawks 93-89 as we head into the fourth.

Lauri Markkanen has 30 points, while six Hawks players are in double digits. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/g7fNZa48zY

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

Fourth Quarter

Will Hardy takes a timeout after the @ATLHawks take a 103-98 lead with 8:15 left in the game.

The @utahjazz have been riding their deep bench for a long stretch here in the second half but the Hawks haven't been able to pull away. #takenote pic.twitter.com/Mpos1qNm2E

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

𓄀 bulldozing 101 𓄀 pic.twitter.com/7g421LYPWQ

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2025

Back to back buckets from Walker Kessler and the @utahjazz lead the @ATLHawks 112-110 with 3:32 left in the fourth.

Markkanen is up to 35 points. #takenote pic.twitter.com/PRH8rG5bju

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

I'm not sure what the bigger indictment is on the Eastern Conference.

That the Jazz have a winning record against the East, or that the Hawks are 18-18 and likely headed for a playoff berth.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2025

One of the craziest finishes in @utahjazz history.

Collin Sexton ties the game on the broken play, only for Trae Young to win it for the @ATLHawks from halfcourt. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/eFHGATc3ls

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2025

Jazz-Hawks Gameday Reading

•  Jazz Return Home To Host Snyder, Hawks

•  Jazz Turn In Season Best Defensive Effort In Win Over Magic

• Walker Kessler Goes Viral After Girlfriend Wins Miss America

• Jazz Mailbag: Can Fans Enjoy Wins In Lottery Bound Season?

• Jordan Clarkson Sidelined At Least Two Weeks With Foot Injury

• Utah Jazz Midseason Report

• Taylor Hendricks Joins Jazz On Four-Game Road Swing

• Utah Jazz Announce Sale Date For New Statement Edition Uniforms

• Abbie Stockard, Girlfriend Of Walker Kessler Named Miss America

Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

Tonight’s game against the Hawks is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, 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.

Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect; give us a follow @kslsports.

Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio and video and stay updated on all your favorite teams.

Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.

Follow @bpreece24