Keyonte George Posterizes Pistons With Transition Slam
Dec 19, 2024, 6:12 PM | Updated: Dec 20, 2024, 9:28 am
DETROIT, Michigan – 6’10 Jalen Duran was on the wrong side of an emphatic Keyonte George dunk as the Jazz tried to wrestle momentum away from Detroit.
The Pistons (11-16) are hosting Utah (5-20) at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, December 19.
RELATED: Jazz Ripping The Nets In Opening Quarter Against Detroit
KEYONTE GEORGE POSTER 🤯🤯
UTA-DET | NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/LIPBPXoY88 pic.twitter.com/bbnlSyHVQY— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2024
With the Pistons’ defensive physicality controlling the pace, George took matters into his own hands for a possession. After crossing midcourt, George got a step on his defender and accelerated to the basket.
The second-year guard leaped with the ball cradled in his right hand. Duran met George at the rim but couldn’t keep the former Baylor guard from finishing the highlight dunk.
Detroit trimmed a 29-point deficit to 67-54 at the half. Utah shot 52.5 percent from the field and made 10-of-20 threes but was undone by 13 turnovers.
RELATED STORIES
Cody Williams is making progress with the Stars
After averaging 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds with horrendous shooting splits in 16 games to begin his rookie year, Utah assigned Williams to the G-League. The former first-round pick averaged 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 30 percent from the floor, 21 percent from three, and 68 percent from the free throw line.
“Cody is getting better. The game that I was at, I thought he played a good game, I just think he didn’t shoot the ball great, and so I leave encouraged,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said.
21 PTS ⭐️ 7/10 FG ⭐️ 3/3 3PT
2024 NBA first round pick Cody Williams dropped a CAREER-HIGH in scoring for the @slcstars! He did this in just 20 MIN of action. pic.twitter.com/vM6JbpCF8p
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 5, 2024
Now, it’s worth noting that Williams has been asked to do two radically different things with the Jazz and the Salt Lake City Stars, and it’s part of the reason he was sent to the G-League in the first place.
Jazz Mailbag: Should Jazz Fans Be Concerned About Cody Williams?
Williams had quickly assumed the role of a traditional 3-and-D wing after moving into the starting lineup early in the year, but the Jazz wanted to give him more opportunities with the ball in his hands. Williams was doing far more dribble-drive shot creation with the Stars than in the NBA and showed a knack for getting into the paint, even if his shots weren’t falling.
“The making and missing of shots is not everything for these guys where they are in their careers, and so we try to stay focused on that while also recognizing that they’re human and that they want to make every shot, and if they don’t, they feel bad about themselves, so we have to help them keep that perspective,” Hardy said of Williams’ development.
Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports
Tonight’s game against the Pistons 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.
Find KSLSports.com coverage of the Utah Jazz here.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect; give us a follow @kslsports.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.
