Utah Jazz Show Massive Growth In Upsetting Detroit Pistons
Dec 26, 2025, 10:10 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2025, 2:31 pm
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) reacts after making a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz stunned the NBA world on Friday night by knocking off the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in a 131-129 win.
The Jazz (11-19, 12th in West) returned from its Christmas break to host the Pistons (24-7) at Delta Center on Friday, December 26.
RELATED: Jazz Defense Overwhelmed By Shorthanded Grizzlies In Loss
there's no place like home for the holidays 😏#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/crdWNFbaYM
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
Keyonte George led all scorers with 31 points, combining with Lauri Markkanen for 61 points and nine threes.
Brice Sensabaugh (20 points) and Kevin Love (14 points) each scored in double figures off the bench.
Jusuf Nurkić finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in one of his best all-around games in a Jazz uniform.
Jazz make up for earlier loss against Detroit
The Pistons handed Utah a 114-103 loss in Detroit in early November. Detroit guard Cade Cunningham led all scorers with 31 points, adding ten assists for a double-double.
Svi Mykhailiuk hit six threes on his way to a season-high 28 points for Utah. Lauri Markkanen added 25 points on 8-of-22 shooting, while Keyonte George scored 19 points to round out the Jazz’s double-digit scorers.
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Jazz features a mostly healthy roster vs. the Detroit Pistons
All-Star hopeful forward Lauri Markkanen is scheduled to return to the lineup tonight after missing three of the team’s past four games.
Jazz Injury Report:
*AVAILABLE – Oscar Tshiebwe (G League)
OUT – Elijah Harkless (G League)
OUT – Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)
OUT – Georges Niang (left foot; fourth metatarsal stress reaction)
OUT – John Tonje (G League)
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 26, 2025
Detroit guard Ron Holland is probably after being the only player listed on Detroit’s pregame injury report.
Pregame
Lauri's BACK (in front of the home crowd) 💜#StartingLineup pic.twitter.com/VeAoa1amjf
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
Tonight's starting five @Kia pic.twitter.com/BdAS3nO8yc
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 27, 2025
and you can vote now to send both of them to the #NBAAllStar game
🌟 https://t.co/X4WJXzIrma https://t.co/Ze68y44kHX
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
the Finnish-Bosnian fútbol connection remains strong 🇫🇮🤝🇧🇦 pic.twitter.com/oepDvJhi9T
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
First Quarter
Utah’s offense came out firing, making six of its first ten shots. Unfortunately, Detroit’s offense was equally effective.
The Jazz stay true to recent form in the opening minutes against Detroit.
An efficient offense is doing everything it can to keep up with a porous defense.
8:14 | Q1@utahjazz 12@DetroitPistons 10pic.twitter.com/NktLXPyipA
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Detroit’s normally stingy defense was no match for Utah’s energy at the start of the game.
Lauri Markkanen scored ten early points, with Svi Mikhailiuk and Keyonte George each adding five points in the first six minutes.
Defense has yet to arrive in SLC for tonight's Jazz-Pistons matchup.
Both teams are shooting well above 50 percent as Utah holds a 25-23 lead less than eight minutes in.pic.twitter.com/VEmjRmFRva
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Detroit uses an 18-2 run to take a 32-25 lead thanks to 6️⃣consecutive misses for the Jazz.
The Pistons stepped up the intensity, and Utah is yet to match.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
The Jazz trail Detroit 36-33 after a strong finish to the first quarter.
Utah's defense has been abysmal, and the Pistons have been only slightly better. pic.twitter.com/qZvGSkTYaP
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Second Quarter
The Pistons continued to get whatever they wanted on the offensive end in the second period.
Detroit took a nine-point lead midway through the quarter while shooting 59 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep.
The Jazz offense has gone cold in the second period.
Five FTs and 15 points from Lauri Markkanen are keeping Utah within striking distance of the Pistons.
6:13 | Q2
Jazz 43
Pistons 52pic.twitter.com/3lGV3LMefA— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Utah’s hot start came to a close as the team’s field goal percentage fell under 40 percent.
Trailing by 11, George and Brice Sensabaugh combined for a 9-2 Jazz run, cutting the gap to 56-52.
BREAKING: Ace Bailey will not return tonight for the @utahjazz after suffering a left hip flexor strain.
Bailey did not score in 11 minutes before leaving.
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Key at the half:
🔑 20 PTS
🔑 4 AST
🔑 2 REB
🔑 4 3PM
🔑 0 TOAll-Star behavior 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Q4hveMCqlF
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
Jazz showing signs of life as they trail Detroit 68-67 at the half after falling behind by as many as 11. pic.twitter.com/ef0aFp1PPz
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Third Quarter
Jusuf Nurkić started the second half on double-double watch with 14 points and nine boards early in the period. He added four assists to that point for good measure.
Jusuf Nurkić is one rebound short of a double-double as the Jazz and Pistons battle back and forth in the second half.
He's going to need some defensive help on the interior if Utah wants to steal a win from the Eastern Conference's top team.pic.twitter.com/9xKEB98wVp
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Utah’s late surge to end the first half continued early in the third quarter.
Markkanen knocked down a three for his 20th point, giving his team its first lead since midway through the opening quarter.
someone left the back door open for Svi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EyHXNcGS12
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
The Jazz have solved Detroit's defense for the time being. A renewed vigor has the Pistons scrambling in Salt Lake City.
Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen have 23 points apiece with8️⃣ combined 3s.
6:33 | Q3
Jazz 88
Pistons 78pic.twitter.com/ycbYkIono4— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
The Jazz have matched Detroit's physicality in the second half to build a double-digit advantage.
Detroit is challenging an out-of-bounds call with Utah leading 97-89 with 3:25 left in the third.pic.twitter.com/n0kQrS5Wh8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Kevin Love’s experience paid dividends with the 18-year veteran scoring ten points in the period as Utah built its advantage.
The Jazz outscore Detroit 44-35 in the third quarter to grab a 111-103 lead. Utah is firing on all cylinders on both ends.
Kevin Love erupts for 14 points, with ten coming in the period.pic.twitter.com/dwwzgETliK
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Fourth Quarter
Detroit makes a run, cutting the Jazz lead to 120-117 with 7:12 left.
Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George have combined for 57 points with nine threes.pic.twitter.com/M58cOuw3pZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Sensabaugh came out of timeout and buried a corner three to beat the shot clock, giving his team a six-point lead with under seven minutes to play.
Leading by three, Nurkić rejected an Isaiah Stewart would-be dunk at the rim, creating a fast break dunk chance that Isaiah Collier finished for a 127-122 Jazz advantage.
NURK IN THE CLUTCH!!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/PwrgHK1qmn
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2025
The review goes against Utah. No challenges left for the final three minutes. https://t.co/00AisdX1OB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Keyonte George making HUGE plays down the stretch as the @utahjazz look to upset Detroit. pic.twitter.com/wS1d8lzGLH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Keyonte George leads the @utahjazz past Detroit with a come-from-behind home win.pic.twitter.com/DwnU7tEYJy
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 27, 2025
Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports
The Jazz head to the Lone Star State to tangle with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, December 27. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. MT.
All Jazz games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) occasionally broadcasts Jazz games.
Utah Jazz fans can watch the team’s games next season for free over the air on KJZZ TV and can stream the games through a paid streaming-based platform on the team’s website. KJZZ is currently broadcast on channel 14.1.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10- 12 p.m. with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
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, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
