Utah Jazz Battle Back, Fall In Nail-Biter To Portland

SALT LAKE CITY – Keyonte George kept the Utah Jazz close in the final seconds with two dramatic threes, but his buzzer-beater came up short in a 114-112 loss.

The Jazz (14-43) hosted the Trail Blazers (25-33) at Delta Center on Monday, February 24. Utah is 9.5 games behind Portland and is squarely in the second-to-last position in the Western Conference.

The Jazz, meanwhile, are tied with the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets for the second-fewest wins in the league after defeating the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

In the first meeting, Utah blew out the Blazers, triumphing 141-99 in Portland. Twenty days later, the Trail Blazers paid Utah back with a Scoot Henderson buzzer-beater for a 122-120 Portland win.

💔 pic.twitter.com/y1P6fsC9d4

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

Rookies Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams must step up tonight, with Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Walker Kessler sitting out. Point guard Collin Sexton is still working his way back from an ankle injury suffered before the All-Star break.

With the quartet in street clothes, the Jazz need to replace more than 67 points, nearly 30 rebounds, and 10 assists from their production.

Expect a more burdensome load for Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabuagh.

Utah Jazz Injury Report

OUT – Lauri Markkanen (back)

OUT – Walker Kessler (illness)

OUT – John Collins (back)

OUT – Collin Sexton (ankle)

OUT – Jordan Clarkson (foot)

OUT – Taylor Hendricks (leg)

Portland Trail Blazers Injury Report

OUT – DeAndre Ayton (calf)

OUT – Matisse Thybulle (ankle)

OUT – Robert Williams III (knee)

Pregame

. @Sviat_10 fans check in📍🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/wVnewE6dZM

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

LISTEN LIVE: @utahjazz are back home to face the @trailblazers on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone and:https://t.co/5PiBdGzWIV pic.twitter.com/085NKoEaEB

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

First Quarter

🏔️ Brice 🏔️ Isaiah 🏔️ Johnny 🏔️ KJ 🏔️ Kyle 🏔️#StartingLineup presented by @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/NfshAt6DDT

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

Four minutes in the @utahjazz trail the @trailblazers 15-12.

Jazz are a perfect 2-2 from the three-point line. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/t0gRKTtqjx

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

♨️ Johnny's got the hot hand early ♨️#TakeNote | @JohnnyJuzang pic.twitter.com/ja4HlQtbXd

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

The All-Star break was really good for Cody Williams.

He's come back with a lot more confidence.

Looks more like the player he was at Colorado, good defense, opportunistic drives, finding rebounds and teammates.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 25, 2025

Challenging two calls in the first quarter of a game between the Utah Jazz and the Portland Trail Blazers. 👨‍🍳👌

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 25, 2025

Cody Williams is on 🔥 for the @utahjazz https://t.co/vYJYiVIUri

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

After one the @utahjazz lead the @trailblazers 33-32.

Micah Potter and Cody Williams each have six points to lead the Jazz. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/rBDVeE7zIx

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

Second Quarter

🥰 our shayla 🥰 pic.twitter.com/cr768qUylD

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

With 4:07 left in the first half the @utahjazz trail the @trailblazers 49-48.

Trail Blazers have nine points off Jazz turnovers. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/HfVIhwkKBQ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

One of the interesting what-ifs in recent Jazz history goes back to last year's draft.

Say the Jazz had landed the seventh pick instead of falling to 10, would they have drafted Donovan Clingan or Zach Edey?

Might have never seen Walker Kessler's huge year three jump.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 25, 2025

one small step for svi, one giant leap for the bucket 🧑‍🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/2ZtgTgumeq

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

Isaiah Collier hits the three-quarter court buzzer beater and the @utahjazz cut the @trailblazers lead to 10 at the break.

Jazz down 61-51.

#takenotepic.twitter.com/m01vTQWLuC

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

Isaiah Collier from distance 👀 @utahjazz https://t.co/lRYv1HWktu

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

Third Quarter

Midway through the third period the @utahjazz trail the @trailblazers 73-62.

Kyle Filipowski has 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/7kxWgHjtzd

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

Strong close to the third quarter from the @utahjazz who trail the @trailblazers 86-82.

Brice Sensabaugh has 13 points for the Jazz. #takenote pic.twitter.com/CoYpiN1rOA

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

Fourth Quarter

🪄✨ noooo ✨🪄#TakeNote | @bigjam_23 pic.twitter.com/3UX12I0Cvy

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

The @utahjazz have erased the @trailblazers 13 point lead, and now own a 92-90 advantage with 8:52 left in the game.

Portland really struggling with the Jazz's skeleton crew roster. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/VmVBxbjTjC

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

KJ up at the rim??? classic 😏 pic.twitter.com/ifrN4bpAFI

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

ANOTHER ONE THANK YOU 💰 https://t.co/5KxMfWPOFO pic.twitter.com/bCvx5Om9iW

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 25, 2025

Keyonte George has hit two miraculous threes to keep the @utahjazz in this game.

They trail the @trailblazers 113-112 with 3.6 seconds left. Portland has the ball.

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

The shorthanded @utahjazz gave it a good fight but fall to the @trailblazers 114-112.

Brice Senesabaugh led the Jazz with 23 points, Keyonte George misses the would-be game-winner at the buzzer.#TakeNotepic.twitter.com/AZpsWFlykw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 25, 2025

Trail Blazers Look To Recapture Winning Momentum

The Trail Blazers face the Jazz, who have lost four of their last five. However, they are trying to recapture their lost momentum entering the All-Star break.

Before bookending the mid-season hiatus with four losses, Portland had won nine out of 10 games, inserting their name into the play-in tournament conversation.

From his high school days in Massachusetts to being drafted by the Jazz, it’s been quite the journey for @kylefilipowski and his basketball career ⛹️‍♂️

Read the full story now 📓 https://t.co/fUGONxnICC#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/2JsZtScRqW

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2025

Even with their recent struggles, the Trail Blazers sit just 4.5 games back of the Sacramento Kings for the 10th seed in the West.

Jazz-Blazers Gameday Reading

• Updated Jazz Injury Report Before Hosting Trail Blazers

• Jazz Beat Rockets Led By Keyonte George’s 30 Point Night

• George, Collier, & Martin Combine For Highlight Dunk

• Jazz Fall To Thunder In First Game After All-Star Break

• Ryan Smith On Rebuild: “We’re Hoping To Do Something Different From Jazz History”

• Brice Sensabaugh Gets Engaged Over All-Star Break

• Next 10 Games Are Most Important Stretch Of Jazz Season

• Report: Jazz Sign Former Tennessee Guard To 10-Day Contract

• Jazz Mailbag: Should Team Have Kept Mitchell Or Gobert?

• Keyonte George Nails Three In All-Star Game With Rising Stars Squad

• Keyonte George Hits Rising Stars Championship Game-Winner

• John Stockton Reacts To Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Shoutout

• Utah Jazz Mailbag: How Does 2025 Draft Impact Current Youth?

• Isaiah Collier Sets Utah Jazz History In First Half Against Suns

Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

Tonight’s game against the Trail Blazers is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on SEG+, 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. 

Find sports.ksl.com coverage of the Utah Jazz here.

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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 and Instagram at @bpreece24.