Eight Buzzer-Beaters That Landed Jazz A Top Five Pick
Apr 13, 2025, 7:07 PM | Updated: Apr 14, 2025, 11:42 am
Bub Carrington #8 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after making a buzzer beater to defeat the Miami Heat (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Call it good luck or bad, there were eight shots throughout the NBA season that landed the Utah Jazz the worst record in the NBA.
By owning the league’s worst record, the Jazz have guaranteed themselves a top-five draft pick in June’s NBA Draft.
Their official draft position will be determined on May 12 during the NBA Draft Lottery.
Related: Jazz Fall To Timberwolves To Guarantee Top 5 Pick
Eight Shots That Landed The Jazz A Top 5 Pick
While there can be no question that the Jazz put in the effort to finish with the worst record in the NBA, including drawing a $100,000 fine from the NBA for sitting All-Star Lauri Markkanen in a winnable game, they easily could have found themselves with a far different lottery outlook had a few bounces not gone their way.
Only two games separated the 17-65 Jazz, the 18-64 Washington Wizards, and hte 19-63 Charlotte Hornets for the worst record in the NBA.
With that in mind, these eight shots between the three teams accounted for the difference in win totals and will go a long way toward determining the draft order on lottery night.
Shot One: November 6 – Brandon Miller Sinks Pistons
In the first buzzer-beater to weigh heavily on the final standings, Hornets sophomore Brandon Miller sank a put-back layup at the horn to beat the Detroit Pistons.
CRASH THE GLASS.
WIN THE GAME.Brandon Miller gives the @hornets their 3rd win of the year at the buzzer!#TissotBuzzerBeater #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness https://t.co/xveYCWLwkJ pic.twitter.com/aiONZvFCBD
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2024
In a game where neither team led by more than five points, Miller’s clutch basket was the determining factor.
Shot Two: December 26 – Scoot Henderson Beats Jazz
The Jazz led the Portland Trail Blazers by as many as six points midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold onto the lead on the road.
SCOOT HENDERSON CALLED GAME 🔥
Tough shot to seal it for the Blazers 😤 pic.twitter.com/UxLGVfLOB1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 27, 2024
Sophomore guard Scoot Henderson’s fall-away jumper barely beat the buzzer, handing the Jazz a 122-120 loss.
Shot Three: January 7 – Trae Young From Half Court
In arguably the wildest game-winner in the NBA this season, the Atlanta Hawks stunned the Jazz in Utah behind Trae Young’s half-court heave.
— Gonzalo Vázquez (@GVazquezNY) January 8, 2025
Collin Sexton hit a miraculous three of his own to tie the game at 121, but Young’s deep three sank the Jazz from 45 feet.
Shot Four: February 7 – Grayson Allen Sinks Two Threes
In perhaps the least probable loss of the season for the Jazz, Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen hit a pair of threes in the final two seconds of the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.
GRAYSON ALLEN SENDS IT TO OVERTIME AT THE BUZZER ‼️🚨 pic.twitter.com/z9IvsrGEO6
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2025
Allen hit the first of two threes with 2.0 seconds left on the clock, cutting the Jazz’s lead to one.
After fouling Lauri Markkanen with 0.9 seconds left on the clock, the Jazz could have likely won the game by missing the second free-throw, forcing the Suns to gather the rebound and call a timeout, burning valuable fractions of a second.
Instead, Jazz coach Will Hardy instructed Markkanen to make both free throws, allowing the Suns to call a timeout and advance the ball to halfcourt with the clock stopped.
Allen hit his second consecutive three to send the game to overtime, where the Suns beat the Jazz 135-127.
Shot Five: February 7 – DeAaron Fox Can’t Beat Hornets
In an unbelievable sequence, Miles Bridges canned a corner three to give the Hornets a one-point lead with 1.4 seconds left to play.
MILES BRIDGES WINS IT FOR THE HORNETS (+300) 🚨
De’Aaron Fox was SO close on the other end to winning it for the Spurs (-400) 😱
WHAT A FINISH!
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/bDE2bFublZ
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) February 8, 2025
De’Aaron Fox made a 35-foot three-pointer on the Spurs’ final possession, but released the shot after the buzzer, handing the Hornets an extra win.
Shot Six: March 8 – Wizards Beat Raptors After Late Game-Winner
In the second miss to make the list, the Toronto Raptors’ Jamal Shead nearly beat the Wizards on a last-second layup.
Jamal Shead & the Raps with THE MOST Ethical Loss in the history of the NBA.
Hitting the Game Winner JUST AFTER THE BUZZER#Raptors #Wizards #TankNation
pic.twitter.com/lOGGKxPUjt— J Roca (@JRoc23) March 9, 2025
However, after initially counting the basket, the officials ruled that Shead didn’t get the shot off before the game clock expired.
Had Shead released the ball 0.1 second earlier, the Wizards would have had one fewer win on their record.
Shot Seven: March 15 – Poole Drowns Nuggets
In the most improbable win of the season, the Wizards went into Denver and escaped with a 126-123 victory.
— Gonzalo Vázquez (@GVazquezNY) March 16, 2025
Jordan Poole’s game winner splashed through the hoop with 1.8 seconds left, giving the Wizards their 15th win of the season.
Shot Eight: Bub Carrington Wraps Season By Beating Heat
In a shot that may go down in infamy, the Wizards’ rookie Bub Carrington beat the Miami Heat in a stunning comeback on the final game of the regular season.
🗣️ BUB 🗣️ CARRINGTON!!!!! https://t.co/fEnyZhm1iK pic.twitter.com/WRj1oj6fCc
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) April 13, 2025
Washington trailed by four points with five seconds left to play, but after Justin Champagnie hit a desperation three, the Heat turned the ball over on their inbound play.
Carrington then drove from halfcourt to hit an acrobatic buzzer-beater over two Heat defenders as the season clock expired, giving the Wizards one more win than the Jazz to end the season.
The lottery balls will ultimately determine the value finishing with the worst record in the NBA, but if they fall in the Jazz’s favor, these nine shots will all have played a pivotal role.
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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.
