Three Point Shot Falling In Third For Utah Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz showed momentum in the first half, then threw gas on the fire with four consecutive threes early in the second half.

The Jazz (10-28) are hosting the Charlotte Hornets (8-28) at Delta Center on Wednesday, January 15.

RELATED: Utah Jazz Vs. Charlotte Hornets Live Blog

a pair of threes and Key's up to 15 👀🔑 pic.twitter.com/1bGFRb4WH5

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 16, 2025

Keyonte George started the outburst with a corner three off a nice look from Isaiah Collier. Rookie Cody Williams followed with a three from the same spot on the next possession.

After a Hornets bucket, Isaiah Coller scored his ninth point on a shot from deep. George answered, forcing a Hornets timeout when he drilled a deep three to give Utah a 76-63 lead.

Keyonte George has had as good as a start you can get in the third.

He’s torched Charlotte with 2 triples in 4 minutes — now up to 15 points total.

— Kato Parina (@KatoParinaSLC) January 16, 2025

George has looked great in his return from a five-game absence. The second-year guard has 15 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Collier is one assist shy of tying his career-high of nine, while Brice Sensabaugh has a team-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

Jazz still short-handed despite Keyonte George’s return

Second-year guard Keyonte George is expected to return tonight against Charlotte after missing the past five games with left heel inflammation. Despite adding George to the rotation, Utah still figures to have a short bench with several key players unavailable.

Sparkplug guard Collin Sexton will miss tonight’s game for rest, while All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen remains out with lower back spasms. Former Sixth-Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson will miss his sixth straight game while he rehabs from left plantar fasciitis, and John Collins is out as he manages a left hip injury.

Jazz Injury Report:

*AVAILABLE – Keyonte George (left heel inflammation)

*AVAILABLE – Elijah Harkless (G League)

*AVAILABLE – Oscar Tshiebwe (G League)

OUT – Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis)

OUT – John Collins (left hip – injury management)

OUT – Taylor Hendricks…

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 15, 2025

George’s return adds 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on 39.5 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from deep. Expect George and rookie Isaiah Collier to get the bulk of point guard minutes tonight.

Collier played his best NBA game in a 112-111 overtime win over Brooklyn on January 12. The first-year guard out of USC knocked down three triples on his way to 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 37 minutes.

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Tonight’s game against the Hornets is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.

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. 

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.

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