Warriors Shocked By Jazz On Eve Of Trade Deadline
Feb 5, 2025, 11:23 PM | Updated: Feb 6, 2025, 11:45 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The youth of the Utah Jazz overcame the veteran experience of the Golden State Warriors in the team’s 131-128 victory on Wednesday night.
Jordan Clarkson scored a season-high 31 points for the Jazz in the win while Steph Curry led the Warriors with 32.
“JC, obviously had a big night,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said of Clarkson. “I thought that he made a lot of big plays for us and kept us going in moments when we needed it.”
Game Blog: Jazz Stun Golden State After Teams Complete Trade Before Tip-Off
Jazz Youth Shines Against Warriors
Though Clarkson was the team’s leading scorer, it was the play of Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, and Walker Kessler that helped carry the Jazz over the Warriors late.
George scored 26 points on 8-13 shooting including 4-8 from the three-point line while dishing out six assists and grabbing three rebounds.
“When we get in these situations, we’ve got to learn from it,” George said. “We watch the film, we put in the work and it’s good to finally come out with a win.”
While improving their three-point shooting will be critical, there doesn’t seem to be any signs the Jazz would have to pick between either Isaiah Collier or Keyonte George.
The two seem to play off of each other pretty well for rookies/sophomores.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 6, 2025
Collier scored 20 points and recorded 11 assists while shooting 9-18 from the floor and committing only one turnover.
Kessler recorded a 15-point, 18-rebound double-double to go with three blocks on 7-9 shooting in the win.
All three players showed their strengths in what proved to be the deciding play of the game.
With 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Jazz trailing 128-126, Kessler blocked Draymond Green’s layup attempt, Collier grabbed the rebound and drove the length of the floor before dishing the ball to George for the go-ahead three.
Pretty fitting to have Walker Kessler, Isaiah Collier, and Keyonte George complete this game-winning play on the night before the trade deadline.
The Jazz season has been about turning their young players into winners, and fans got to see it tonight.pic.twitter.com/OXEeDUkrvz
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 6, 2025
“Isaiah, Key, Walker, all these guys are stepping up big time in big moments,” Clarkson said.
After falling behind 122-111, the Jazz closed the game on a 20-6 over the final three minutes of the game.
Over their final 10 possessions, the Warriors shot 2-6 from the floor, 4-4 from the free-throw line, and committed two turnovers while the Jazz were 5-5 from the floor, 7-8 from the free-throw line, and didn’t give the ball away.
With the Jazz prioritizing the development of their young players this season, getting positive returns from Kessler, Collier, and George had to feel promising on the night before the NBA trade deadline.
“I’m really proud of our team,” Hardy said. “I think that the way they carry themselves, the way they compete, and frankly, the way that they’re improving is a great sign for our organization.”
Jazz Make Trade Shortly Before Facing Warriors
The Jazz completed a minor trade before Wednesday’s game, sending recently acquired PJ Tucker to the Miami Heat in exchange for Dennis Schroder and a 2031 second-round draft pick.
Schroder joins the Jazz by way of the Warriors, who are also acquiring All-Star Jimmy Butler in the blockbuster trade, while sending Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a first-round pick to Miami.
The @utahjazz got involved in another @NBA blockbuster as the @MiamiHEAT ship Jimmy Butler to the @warriors https://t.co/0cUmHqVBqH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 6, 2025
Now in his 12th season, Schroder is a savvy reserve guard in the mold of the Jazz’s own Jordan Clarkson with better playmaking skills and in a smaller frame.
The guard began the season in Brooklyn where he averaged 18.4 points and 6.6 assists per game, but was traded to the Warriors in December to help Golden State, and lower the Nets end-of-season win total.
Related: Jazz Acquire Dennis Schroder From Warriors
Schroder never jelled with the Warriors and was rerouted to Utah in a home run swing from Golden State.
The veteran doesn’t make much sense on the Jazz’s current roster, especially if they plan to shift more fully into developmental mode after Thursday’s deadline.
Since Saturday morning the @UtahJazz have acquired four second-round picks in exchange for Drew Eubanks, Patty Mills, and their existing cap space.
For context, the Thunder traded five second-round picks for the 26th pick in last year’s draft.
They’re in the neighborhood.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 6, 2025
Schroder’s value has taken a hit since he was traded in December, but if teams had approached the Jazz about acquiring Clarkson in recent weeks, they might have even more interest in the team’s newest acquisition.
Not only is Schroder one year younger, but he’s also in the final year of his contract making $1 million less than Clarkson who has one year and $14 million remaining on his deal.
Opposing teams are unlikely to give up a haul for Schroder on Thursday, knowing he’s a candidate to get bought out if he remains on the Jazz past the deadline.
However, if a team was looking for a scoring punch in their backcourt and salary relief, he’s a quality option with nearly 70 games of postseason experience.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will travel to face the Phoenix Suns on Friday at 8 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
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.
