Utah Jazz Lose By One Point To Magic In Overtime Heartbreaker
Dec 20, 2025, 11:05 PM
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) prepares to shoot a free throw during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Tess Crowley, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz fought hard through 48 minutes and overtime, but came up just short against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center on Saturday.
Despite a slow start, Keyonte George once again led the way for the Jazz with 27 points and nine assists. Svi Mykhailiuk posted his second-best scoring game of the season with 23, and four other Jazz players reached double figures.
Utah will hit the road for a quick one-game stop in Denver before returning home to host Memphis on Tuesday.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 21, 2025
Jazz Show Orlando Some Late Game Magic In SLC
Heading into the fourth quarter, Utah trailed by 15 and looked all but out against Orlando.
In the final frame, it became the Isaiah Collier show. The second-year guard scored or assisted on 23 of Utah’s 36 fourth-quarter points. This included six of the team’s final 10 points and the late go-ahead game-tying layup.
Zay to force OT‼️ pic.twitter.com/oaB9AAmYNv
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 21, 2025
Fast forward to the end of OT, and it was George who would take the cape from Collier.
He called his own number with less than five seconds left, draining a contested three through the foul to set up a four-point play. The free throw gave Utah a one-point advantage.
A defensive lapse would ultimately seal the deal as Desmond Bane cruised in for an easy layup to put Orlando back in front by a point.
Off-Nights Are No Longer Game Breakers For Keyonte George
To put it kindly, bad performances from Keyonte George in the first two seasons of his career contributed positively to Utah’s lottery-pick odds.
However, so far in year three, he has shown the ability to impact winning basketball on nights when the shot isn’t falling like it normally does.
Against Orlando, George shot 8/22 from the field, 2/8 from three, and had five turnovers. But that didn’t stop him from leading the team in scoring, assists, and nearly willing the team to a win with a clutch four-point play.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy spoke on George’s four-point play and his poise post-game.
“Keyonte (George) made a spectacular play,” Hardy said. “The step-back, the shot fake, got him in the air. Obviously, the building went crazy when it went in. The poise to calm down and make the free throw afterwards is a big thing for a younger player too. That’s one of those moments that’s just an amazing play by a really talented player.”
All-Star him. https://t.co/kYop1Y5Y58
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 21, 2025
In the month of December, George is averaging 27.6 points and 6.7 assists on 47.5/44/92.2 shooting splits.
Standings Outlook
With the loss, the Jazz fell to 10-17 on the season. That places them 12th in the Western Conference and 23rd in the league standings.
For fans who anxiously check draft lottery odds after every final buzzer, Utah is currently in a semi-comfortable place. However, the path upwards is far less treacherous than the path downwards.
At 14.5 games back from the NBA’s one-seed, the Jazz are tied with the Mavericks, 0.5 games back from Milwaukee, and 1.5 games back from the Blazers. That 1.5 game difference is what separates Utah from the next team below them, the Charlotte Hornets.
It’s way too early to take this seriously, but the Jazz are currently in a bit of a sweet spot in the reverse standings.
About a 26 percent chance at the top-four, and about a 60 percent chance to keep the pick. pic.twitter.com/mdXBnwENTE
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 21, 2025
Jazz vs. Magic Quick Hits
- Over a five-minute stretch late in the fourth quarter, Utah held Orlando to zero field goals and went on a 15-3 run to help force overtime.
- Jazz rookie Ace Bailey finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists while throwing down another highlight slam to add to his year-one tape.
- Kevin Love posted another vintage performance with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Seven of his boards were offensive.
- The Magic’s top two options, Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane, combined for 55 points on about 49 percent shooting. Banchero’s physicality and Bane’s shooting were two of the main catalysts in the win.
