Utah Jazz Hold Off Late Comeback, Sink Pistons In Detroit
Dec 19, 2024, 8:05 PM | Updated: Dec 20, 2024, 9:27 am
DETROIT – Thanks to a blazing hot start, the Utah Jazz ended their three-game losing streak in Detroit against the Pistons on Thursday.
Utah shot nearly 70 percent from the field in the opening quarter and cruised out to a 48-19 lead. The Pistons won each of the last three quarters but it still wasn’t enough to erase the near 30-point deficit.
The trio of Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Keyonte George carried the Jazz’s offense. Those three combined for 85 of Utah’s 126 points.
that looks reeeeeaaaalllly good #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/b35kfCsH9K
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 20, 2024
Utah Jazz Start Strong, Hold Off Pistons In Detroit
First Quarter
With the aforementioned trio starting strong, the Jazz pulled out to an early lead at Little Caesars Arena.
Those three players scored 26 of Utah’s first 28 points on a blistering 89 percent from the floor.
The Jazz led 32-15 through the first eight minutes of the quarter. The big lead was built on the back of the team’s shooting from deep.
The Jazz made seven of their first nine attempts from three compared to 1/8 from the Pistons.
.@keyonte1george is 3/3 from deep in 6 minutes 🔐 pic.twitter.com/9xuaI82nGv
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 20, 2024
Although everything was clicking for the Jazz early, maybe the best sign was the reemergence of Markkanen.
The Finnish forward has averaged just 15.8 points in the month of December.
In the first quarter in Detroit, Markkanen recorded 10 points, one rebound, one assist, and one block on 50 percent shooting.
playing both sides of the ball?? sounds like an All Star to us 😌
vote now | https://t.co/h50klBGOuN pic.twitter.com/FqUtJ9l2vE
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 20, 2024
As Utah’s second unit hit started to hit the floor, the run just kept going. Through 12 minutes, they led 48-19.
The first quarter came to a close with the Jazz shooting over 65 percent from both the floor and from three.
Second Quarter
The script was completely flipped in the second quarter.
Through the first six minutes, Detroit outscored Utah 24-6. A near 30-point lead was cut to 10 in what felt like the blink of an eye.
Spaced out buckets from Johnny Juzang, John Collins, and Drew Eubanks stopped the bleeding but the Pistons continued to pile it on.
I bank
Eubank
We bank
🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/vaBJFc2mFL— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 20, 2024
With four minutes left until the half, a breakaway dunk from Tobias Harris cut the lead to single digits.
The Detroit crowd was fully engaged and the Jazz were in desperate need of some momentum. George gave the team just that.
After blowing by Cade Cunningham, he rose up with Jalen Duren in the paint and punched it all over the seven-footer. The dunk single-handedly sucked the energy out of the Motor City crowd.
KEYONTE GEORGE DUNK OF THE YEAR 😳
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 20, 2024
The second-year guard was easily the Jazz’s MVP in the first half. He had 16 points and two assists on over 70 percent shooting.
Following George’s poster, the Jazz closed out the half on a 7-2 run to lead 67-54 at the break.
Third Quarter
After the first was heavily in Utah’s favor and the second was taken by Detroit, the start of the third provided leveled-out, competitive hoops.
The first six minutes played out slightly in the Jazz’s favor, 16-13.
Then, Utah took off on another run. Led by a string of baskets from Markkanen and a highlight alley-oop slam from Sexton, the Jazz led 91-69.
WHAT IN THE YOUNG BULL‼️#TakeNote | @collinsexton02 pic.twitter.com/wPLIYmONEh
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 20, 2024
The closer third quarter led to some high tensions in Detroit.
During a dead ball, Jordan Clarkson and Pistons rookie Ron Holland bumped into one another. The bump escalated into pushing and eventually the two squared up to each other.
They were quickly separated and both received double-technical fouls and were promptly ejected.
Jordan Clarkson, Ron Holland both ejected after dead-ball altercation.
Utah leads 93-81 with 1:30 left in the third.
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 20, 2024
After a few more traded baskets, Utah led 97-86 as the third quarter came to a close.
Fourth Quarter
Despite the late run, the Pistons still won the third quarter by two. The fourth started with a quick Detroit run and another Utah technical.
Just like that, the Jazz lead was cut down to seven.
Faced with a Pistons run backed by the loud Detroit crowd, Utah hit a three on three straight possessions to retake a double-digit advantage.
🧘♂️ for some silence 🧘♂️#TakeNote | @Collinsexton02 pic.twitter.com/OO7TK7M3yt
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 20, 2024
The Jazz remained out in front with their lead hanging around 10 points for much of the fourth.
That was until the final three minutes.
Detroit went into a press and Utah looked like they didn’t know how to handle it. As a result, the Pistons went on a 10-0 run and the lead was closed to five with two minutes left.
Finally, Utah fought through Detroit’s aggressive late-game tactics. A few easy buckets and some free throws later, the win was secured.
