Jazz Record Eighth Straight Loss, Fall To Raptors
Mar 15, 2025, 12:03 AM | Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 4:48 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz record fell to 15-52 on the season with their 126-118 loss at home to the Toronto Raptors.
Jordan Clarkson scored 19 points to lead the Jazz while Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley each had 20 to lead the Raptors.
Game Blog: Jazz Fall To Raptors
Jazz Record 25th Home Loss
With Friday’s loss, the Jazz can now finish no better than 16-25 at home, which would tie the 2013-14 roster for the fewest wins in Utah in franchise history.
At their current .242 pace, the Jazz will finish with fewer than 10 victories in Salt Lake City, which would blow their previous record out of the water.
One of the key reasons the organization has struggled to land top-tier draft position throughout their history is the traditionally strong Jazz record at home.
First sim of the day heading into a big weekend of basketballhttps://t.co/FXkXbE02qc pic.twitter.com/QHjbqTorcz
— Tankathon.com (@tankathon) March 14, 2025
This season will mark only the fifth time the team has finished with fewer than 20 wins at home, and only the third time since 1983.
Uncoincidentally, the Jazz wound up with the third-pick in 2005 NBA Draft after winning just 18 games at home, and ended up with the fifth selection in 2014 after winning 16 games in Salt Lake City.
With their latest loss, the Jazz own the second-worst record in the league.
Teamed with Charlotte’s victory in San Antonio on Friday, the Jazz are 2.0 games back of the Hornets who own the third-worst record in the league, and are only percentage points ahead of the league-worst Washington Wizards.
Kessler DNP-CD, Markkanen Sits Second Half
Walker Kessler was in uniform for Friday’s matchup between the Jazz and the Raptors but did not take the court against Toronto.
Similarly, Lauri Markkanen played nearly 19 minutes in the first half, but didn’t see the floor in the second.
As the Jazz continue to tinker with late-season rotations, carving out extra time for rookies, while maximizing their lottery odds, Kessler was essentially a healthy scratch without showing up on the injury report, as was Markkanen for the final 24 minutes of the game.
The decision comes on the heels of the NBA fining the Jazz $100,000 for sitting Markkanen for nine straight games between February 24 and March 10 due to back spasms.
No Lauri Markkanen in the starting lineup to begin the second half.
That might explain his first-half aggression.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 15, 2025
Keyonte George and John Collins were the only other key rotation players to miss Friday’s game.
George has missed the last three games with a foot injury, while Collins suffered an ankle sprain in Wednesday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Related: John Collins To Miss At Least Two Weeks With Ankle Injury
Without several key pieces playing, Jazz coach Will Hardy has to get creative with his rotations.
“You have to go on about it like a scientist,” Hardy said. “You have a question, ‘Hey, will this work? Or will they be able to act and put it out there — see what happens, and you kind of adjust from there.”
With 15 games left this season, and Collins sidelined for at least the next two weeks, Hardy should have plenty of opportunities to experiment.
Next Utah Jazz Broadcast
The Jazz will travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 5 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.
