Utah Jazz Defense Overwhelmed By Shorthanded Grizzlies In Loss
Dec 23, 2025, 9:34 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Delta Center on December 15, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Taylor Hendricks’ career-high 21 points went for naught as the Utah Jazz defense struggled in a 137-128 loss to Memphis.
The Jazz (10-18, 12th in West) hosted the Memphis Grizzlies (13-16, Ninth in West) at Delta Center on Tuesday, December 23.
enjoy your holidays, jazz fans 💜#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/LGX625MEAU
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Taylor Hendricks scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, with four rebounds and three assists.
Kyle Filipowski added 25 points, 13 boards, and four assists. Keyonte George added 24 points.
three guys with 20+ 📈#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/7c0DeQTxwN
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Santi Aldama made seven threes on his way to 37 points in the nine-point win.
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First Quarter
Memphis came out firing, making four threes and 9-of-14 shots overall while building a 22-16 lead.
Kyle Filipowski scored seven early points for the Jazz, who were playing without starters Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkić.
show love, it’s the reason for the season 🥰 pic.twitter.com/0zQSUrRFOY
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Taylor Hendricks came off the bench to score eight points and grab two boards in six minutes.
Memphis forward Santi Aldama opened the night 6-for-6 from the field for a career-high 15 first-quarter points.
everyone's favorite Christmas caroler: T-Henny 🎤 pic.twitter.com/BuluNZdE8B
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Utah trailed 39-34 after one period.
Second Quarter
Following a scoreless start, Ace Bailey scored five quick points for Utah as they tried to stay close against a hot-shooting Grizzly team.
rookin' around, the christmas three 🎄🎶#TakeNote | @AiriousB pic.twitter.com/QmZVjMs4Aq
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Cody Williams also gave his team a lift.
The former tenth overall pick in the 2024 draft made his presence felt with two paint buckets and a couple of rebounds. It was a welcome change from the too-often-empty stat lines Williams sometimes provides.
home (court) cookin’ for the holidays 🧑🍳#TakeNote | @tayxhendricks pic.twitter.com/xDxtCsWb3G
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Porous defense prevented the Jazz from making any sizable run until a 17-4 run to close the half cut the deficit to 69-67.
Keyonte George led his team with 15 points while adding three assists. Filipowski added 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
🥁 a key before the half, pa rum pum pum pum 🥁#TakeNote | @keyonte1george pic.twitter.com/w48yGnZO5W
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Memphis made 26-of-48 shots (54 percent) and scored 30 points in the paint to little resistance from the Jazz. The Grizzlies assisted 25 of their 26 first-half field goals.
Third Quarter
A Filipowski dunk gave Utah its first lead seconds into the half.
It turned into a back-and-forth battle with both teams combining for five threes in the opening minutes of the period.
now don't flip out but,,,, @kylefilipowski's got 𝟮𝟬 👀 pic.twitter.com/v5MqjS2JXM
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Memphis made a run on the back of Jack Landale’s post presence.
The Australian center controlled the offensive glass, with six of his eight boards coming on that end. Landale started his night making 5-of-6 shots for 13 points.
Teammate Santi Aldama crossed the 30-point threshold with a three that gave the Grizzlies a 101-92 lead with 2:27 left in the quarter.
ALL WE WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS 🎁:#TakeNote | @AiriousB pic.twitter.com/JDnW4suF0x
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Needing a spark, Isaiah Collier found a cutting Ace Bailey with a behind-the-back pass that ended with a posterizing slam over two Memphis defenders.
Utah couldn’t maintain the momentum, going into the final 12 minutes trailing 109-101.
Fourth Quarter
Taylor Hendricks knocked down two free throws in the fourth for a career-high 21 points in 21 minutes.
a new ❄️𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐑-𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇❄️ for @tayxhendricks #TakeNote | @tayxhendricks pic.twitter.com/XrjN0tusaO
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
Utah struggled to make any headway, scoring efficiently but never finding the defensive intensity needed to slow down the Grizzlies.
the gift that keeps on giving 🎁@isaiahcollier04 | @AiriousB pic.twitter.com/odIQJC0vnc
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 24, 2025
After winning a coach’s challenge, Cam Spencer drilled a three to give the Grizzlies a 133-121 lead with 2:34 left.
Memphis held on for the 137-128 win.
Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports
The Jazz take a two-day holiday sabatical before hosting the Detroit Pistons on Friday, December 26. Tip-off is at 7:30 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.
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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, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
