Utah Jazz Shock Timberwolves as Keyonte George Erupts for Career-High 43 Points

On paper, Tuesday night looked like a scheduled loss. The Utah Jazz had spent 17 of their last 20 days living out of suitcases, dragging themselves through a brutal road schedule. To make matters worse, the injury report was grim: no Kevin Love, no Brice Sensabaugh, and most critically, no Lauri Markkanen. Before tip-off, the Jazz held a dismal 0-10 record this season when their Finnish All-Star was sidelined.

But nobody told Keyonte George that the script was already written.

In a performance that electrified the Delta Center and signaled a potential turning point for the young guard, George poured in a career-high 43 points, leading a ferocious fourth-quarter rally that saw the Utah Jazz stun the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-122. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement of depth and resilience from a team that refused to fold against one of the Western Conference’s heavyweights.

Keyonte George Carries the Jazz Offense

While Anthony Edwards was busy putting on a show for Minnesota with 38 points of his own, it was George who had the final say. The guard was efficient and lethal, shooting 15-of-28 from the field and draining six three-pointers.

The defining moment came in the final minute. With the Timberwolves clawing back, Edwards converted a three-point play to cut the Utah lead to a precarious 121-119. The tension in the arena was palpable. George didn’t hesitate. He responded immediately with a cold-blooded 3-pointer with 59.2 seconds remaining, effectively icing the game and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

It was the type of takeover performance the front office envisioned when they handed him the keys to the offense. George wasn’t just scoring; he was answering every challenge thrown his way by a top-tier Minnesota defense.

A Historic Fourth Quarter for the Utah Jazz

The box score will show a five-point victory, but it doesn’t capture the explosion that occurred in the final twelve minutes. Entering the fourth quarter, the Jazz trailed 96-84.

Then, the floodgates opened.

The Jazz offense executed with surgical precision, scoring on their first 11 possessions of the final period. They outscored Minnesota 43-26 in the quarter, shooting the lights out and leaving the Wolves’ defense scrambling.

Rookie Ace Bailey was the spark plug that ignited the run. He finished with 20 points, but his impact was felt most during an 11-2 run midway through the fourth. Bailey delivered an electrifying dunk followed by a deep 3-pointer that finally gave the Jazz the lead with 7:47 to play. Once they grabbed that momentum, they never truly let it go.

Nurkic and the Bench Step Up

While George and Bailey provided the scoring punch, Jusuf Nurkic provided the muscle and the playmaking. The veteran center recorded the second triple-double of his career, posting a massive stat line of 16 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Nurkic was the anchor, battling in the paint against his former teammate Rudy Gobert. The matchup got physical—and personal—in the fourth quarter when Gobert was assessed a technical foul for an elbow to Nurkic’s face. Nurkic took the hit, kept his composure, and continued to facilitate the offense, finding cutters like Isaiah Collier for easy looks.

Speaking of Collier, the bench production was nothing short of spectacular. Collier chipped in 18 points and dished out 10 assists, giving Utah two players with double-digit assists on the night. Between Collier and Kyle Filipowski (11 points, 8 rebounds), the Jazz reserves outplayed their counterparts, ensuring there was no drop-off when the starters sat.

Looking Ahead for Utah

This victory breaks the psychological dam of playing without Markkanen. Snapping that 0-10 streak proves that this roster has enough talent to compete even when their primary option is in street clothes.

They will look to carry this momentum into Thursday when they host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. If Tuesday night was any indication, the Jazz aren’t interested in tanking—they’re interested in developing a winning culture, one gritty comeback at a time.