Keyonte George’s Career Night Lifts Jazz to Victory Against Timberwolves as Hardy Secures 100th Win

Key Takeaways:

• Keyonte George scored a career-high 43 points as the Utah Jazz overturned a 15-point deficit
• Jusuf Nurkic tallied his second career triple-double with 16 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists
• Will Hardy earned his 100th win as Utah Jazz head coach, ending a four-game losing run

Match Analysis

The Utah Jazz mounted a stirring comeback to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-122 at home, overturning a significant 15-point deficit in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night. Keyonte George delivered a career-best performance with 43 points, marking his third game with over 30 points in his last six outings. This offensive outburst provided the platform for Utah’s rally, which not only snapped a four-game losing streak for the Jazz but also delivered head coach Will Hardy his 100th career victory.

it's GREAT to be home 💜#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/U1bKp9e86B

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 21, 2026

Standout Performances

Jusuf Nurkic recorded his second career triple-double, posting 16 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists. This achievement marked his first triple-double since 16 January 2019, when he was with Portland and helped the team to a 129-112 win over Cleveland.

Utah also benefited from rookie Ace Bailey, who added 20 points, while Isaiah Collier contributed 18 points and 10 assists. Their efforts compensated for key absences, as the Jazz were without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen, as well as Kevin Love and Brice Sensabaugh. The Jazz improved to a 15-29 record and registered their first victory in 11 games this season without Markkanen.

On the Timberwolves’ side, Anthony Edwards poured in 38 points, leading all Minnesota scorers, while Julius Randle posted 19 points. Rudy Gobert returned from a league suspension and a hip bruise, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Minnesota, now 27-17, have now lost three straight games to close out their four-game trip.

Decisive Moments and Game Flow

Despite trailing by one entering the third quarter, Minnesota surged ahead behind 12 points from Edwards, building what appeared to be a comfortable 96-84 lead by the end of the period. The Timberwolves dominated in transition with a 23-9 fast-break points advantage through three quarters, but failed to maintain that momentum as Utah seized the initiative in the fourth.

Ace Bailey injected energy into the Jazz’s comeback, igniting an 11-2 run with a highlight dunk followed by a three-pointer, giving Utah the lead with 7:47 remaining. The Jazz capitalised on this, scoring on their first 11 possessions in the final quarter.

As Minnesota threatened a late revival, trims Utah’s lead to 121-119 through a three-point play by Edwards, George responded by burying a crucial corner three-pointer with 59.2 seconds left, restoring a two-possession advantage and ultimately securing the win for the Jazz.

Controversy and Absences

Rudy Gobert’s return to Utah was not without incident. The French center received a technical foul in the fourth quarter after elbowing Nurkic in the face, though a video review led officials to opt against a flagrant foul. Utah, who had previously gone 0-10 without Markkanen this season, were able to compensate for their depleted roster on this occasion.

Upcoming Fixtures

• The Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday
• The Utah Jazz will meet the San Antonio Spurs at home on Thursday