Keyonte George Erupts for 39, Jazz Spoil Ja Morant’s Return in Memphis Thriller

The script was written for a celebration at FedExForum on Friday night. Ja Morant was back in the lineup after a ten-game absence, the crowd was buzzing, and the Grizzlies were looking to capitalize on the momentum of their young core.

But nobody sent that script to Keyonte George.

In a game that turned into a dazzling offensive showcase, the Utah Jazz played the role of spoiler to perfection, riding a career-high 39 points from George to grit out a 130-126 victory. While the headlines coming in focused on the return of Memphis’ superstar, the story walking out was squarely about Utah’s guard taking a massive leap forward.

George wasn’t just good; he was inevitable. With the score knotted at 126 and the clock ticking under a minute, the atmosphere was suffocating. George, unfazed by the noise, pulled up for a cold-blooded 22-footer to give the Jazz the lead for good. He then iced the game with two free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining, capping off a performance that his teammate Isaiah Collier simply described on social media as “a bucket.”

A Career Night for Keyonte George

For the Jazz, this wasn’t just a win; it was a proof of concept. George’s stat line was ridiculous—39 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists—but it was the timing of his production that mattered most. He scored the final six points of the game, demanding the ball when the pressure was highest.

Utah needed every bit of his production to counter a blistering shooting night from Memphis, particularly from Cam Spencer, who went a perfect 6-for-6 from deep off the bench. But whenever the Grizzlies threatened to run away with it, George had an answer. His aggression forced the issue, getting him to the line and creating space for his teammates.

Lauri Markkanen played the perfect co-star, quietly racking up 26 points and 9 rebounds, providing the steady offensive presence the Jazz rely on. But make no mistake: Friday night belonged to the backcourt.

Vintage Kevin Love Turns Back the Clock

While the youngsters were running the floor, it was a 37-year-old veteran who completely shifted the momentum. Kevin Love, looking like he stepped out of a time machine, delivered a vintage performance that arguably saved the game for the Jazz.

Memphis had seized control in the third quarter, holding a double-digit lead and looking ready to blow the game open. Enter Love. The veteran forward exploded for 13 points in the third period alone, hitting a pair of massive three-pointers in the final minute of the quarter to stop the bleeding.

Love finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, shooting 4-of-10 from downtown. As the Jazz social media team put it, his performance was “like fine wine.” His spacing opened up the floor, allowing George and Markkanen to operate, and his savvy on the glass helped Utah dominate the rebounding battle 67-57.

Morant’s Return and the Grizzlies’ Fight

It wasn’t the result Memphis wanted, but seeing No. 12 back on the floor was a victory in itself. Ja Morant showed flashes of his electric self, finishing with 21 points and 10 assists in just 25 minutes of action.

There was visible rust, but the burst was there. The Grizzlies have been scrappy in his absence, winning seven of their last nine, and inserting Morant back into a lineup featuring the surprisingly effective Santi Aldama (22 points) and the sniper Spencer creates a dangerous rotation.

However, the Grizzlies couldn’t secure the defensive stops when it mattered. They allowed the Jazz to shoot 46.2% from the field and sent them to the line 25 times. In a game decided by four points, those free opportunities—and Utah’s domination on the offensive glass courtesy of Jusuf Nurkic (17 total rebounds)—were the difference maker.

What This Means for the Jazz

This was a character win for Utah. On the road, against an energized crowd and a returning superstar, they didn’t fold when they fell behind by double digits in the second half.

Instead, they leaned on their physicality inside and the hot hand of their rising star. The Jazz put up a massive 42 points in the third quarter to erase the deficit, turning a potential blowout into a shootout.

For a team looking to establish an identity, finding out that Keyonte George can be that guy in crunch time is worth more than just one notch in the win column. If George can consistently perform at this level, the ceiling for this Jazz squad just got a whole lot higher.