Eric Spyropoulos

The Utah Jazz are still looking to find a rhythm in the early going of the 2026-27 season.

After struggles in a five-game homestand as the team navigated several injuries in the frontcourt, Utah began a four-game road trip Monday night in San Antonio. Despite limiting their turnovers (just 11 on the night), an inability to hit shots (35 percent from the field) sunk the Jazz as the Spurs pushed the pace and increased the defensive pressure all night long in a 119-97 win.&nbsp;

Lauri Markkanen was dialed in (22 points, 4-of-7 shooting from deep) and Utah got timely contributions off the bench from Josh Okogie and Mo Bamba, but the team is still looking for a consistent 48 minutes of play.&nbsp;

“I’m seeing good pockets of play, but also moments where we're out of sorts,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy following Monday’s loss to the Spurs. “But I’m continuing to see improvement over the course of those 48 minutes. I have a ton of belief in this group and their ability to improve.”&nbsp;

The trip continues Wednesday for Utah with a second matchup of the season with the New Orleans Pelicans.

New Orleans (3-4) has won three in a row following an 0-4 start, with the Pelicans creeping towards league average on both ends of the floor. New Orleans has a clear identity on the offensive end, focusing on generating shots around the basket and getting to the free-throw line.

In recent games, Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley has shifted the starting lineup to include Herbert Jones and Karlo Matković alongside Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson.&nbsp;

Utah escaped with a 120-119 victory in the first meeting of the season back on Oct. 23.

OUT - Trey Alexander (G League - Two-Way), Harrison Ingram (G League - Two-Way), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Right Knee; MCL Tear), Jusuf Nurkić (Right Foot; 2nd Plantar Plate Tear)

QUESTIONABLE - Mo Bamba (Right Ankle; Sprain)

OUT - Yves Missi (Left Knee Contusion; Bone Bruise)

DOUBTFUL - Malik Dia (G League - Two-Way) Jaron Pierre Jr. (G League - Two-Way)

PROBABLE - Trey Murphy III (Bilateral Patella; Tendinopathy), Jordan Poole (Left Ankle; Tendinopathy / Tendinitis), Julian Reese (G League - Two-Way)

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Here are three keys to Wednesday’s rematch.

Any matchup against the Pelicans must focus on limiting their effectiveness around the basket.&nbsp;

As mentioned earlier, New Orleans puts a ton of pressure on the rim, with just under 44 percent of the team’s shot attempts coming within four feet. For reference, the league average frequency is slightly over 31 percent.

Add that high frequency to a 67.2-percent conversion rate on such shots and you get a dynamic downhill attack. The results have been impressive in the early going for Mosley’s squad, as the Pelicans have averaged 62.6 paint points per game to begin the new season.

In the Oct. 23 contest, New Orleans dropped 64 in the key against Utah, which was nearly enough to overcome some cold shooting from deep (8-of-26). Given that the Pelicans rank last in the league in 3-point attempt frequency, the Jazz will have to focus on packing the paint to slow down Williamson and New Orleans.&nbsp;

Against San Antonio, the Jazz made strides in the possession game, with a reduction in their turnovers and consistent success on the offensive glass (albeit boosted by a high number of missed shots).

With just 11 turnovers committed and 17 offensive rebounds, Utah generated more shot attempts than the Spurs, but an inability to get those extra looks to fall sunk the offense. Against New Orleans, the Jazz will need to replicate that success in hopes of bouncing back.

The Pelicans haven’t relied on offensive rebounding this season (26th in offensive rebound percentage), but have been effective on the defensive glass and rank 12th in opponent turnover percentage. In the first meeting between these two teams, Utah coughed it up 18 times but did hold an edge on the boards (42-37).

In recent games, the Jazz have defended well enough to win, especially given their limited frontcourt personnel.

However, Utah’s offense has gone cold in recent games, scoring under 100 points in each of the last two contests. While turnovers have been an issue at times, it’s cold shooting that has become a thorn in Utah’s side.&nbsp;

As a team, the Jazz rank 29th in effective field-goal percentage this season (48.7 percent), while Hardy’s squad is down to just 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, good for 26th in the league. Although Markkanen enjoyed a bounceback effort against the Spurs, Utah’s other shooters have suffered through a recent slump.

The Jazz went 13-of-35 (37 percent) against New Orleans the first time around and a repeat effort would go a long way towards getting back in the win column.

Wednesday’s game tips off at 6 p.m. MT. Tune in to the pregame show with Alema Harrington and Mike Smith beginning at 5:30 p.m. MT on Jazz+!

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Preview: Utah Jazz Look to Bounce Back Against Pelicans 

In hopes of finding some momentum early in the season, the Utah Jazz came up short as they began a four-game road trip in San Antonio.

A Monday night game against the Spurs served as a rematch to a back-and-forth overtime affair from a few days ago, only this time the host Spurs comfortably controlled the contest and secured a 119-97 victory. Another batch of cold spells sunk Utah’s offense during key moments of the game, while San Antonio scored efficiently and ran out on the break to much success.&nbsp;

Lauri Markkanen bounced back with 22 points, but was one of only two Jazzmen to finish in double-figures in the loss. Through additional minutes as the team’s primary ball-handler, rookie Darryn Peterson dished out a career-high six assists to go along with 14 points, three steals, and two blocks. 

“In the first and third quarters, we had some rough play on the offensive side,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “Our decision-making needs to improve. But the resilience shown in the first half was terrific. I’m seeing good pockets of play, but also moments where we're out of sorts.”

San Antonio jumped out of the gates with a 12-4 run as Utah struggled to make shots. The Spurs got to the free-throw line (12 attempts in the opening frame) and scored efficiently, whereas the Jazz went 3-of-17 from the field to begin Monday’s game. It was tough sledding for Utah’s offense, as San Antonio’s combination of defensive pressure and rim protection kept the visitors from finding a rhythm. After 12 minutes, the Spurs held a 27-16 lead, mainly a result of 27-percent shooting from the Jazz.

As the Jazz began to chip away at the deficit, Markkanen found a flow on the offensive end while Josh Okogie provided a spark off the bench. An 18-8 run got the visitors within one point midway through the second quarter. Markkanen finished with 15 points in the half, while Okogie chipped in with seven points and was plus-10 in his minutes. San Antonio regained the momentum down the stretch of the frame and pushed the lead back up to 59-49 by the break.

The Spurs were hot coming off the break, with a 12-6 run pushing their advantage up to 16 points early in the third quarter. The third frame quickly mirrored the opening quarter, as Utah failed to knock down shots or take care of the ball consistently, which helped San Antonio run away with a 94-69 lead heading into the final 12 minutes.

Isaiah Collier checked in for his first action of the night as the fourth quarter got underway, but Utah’s offense still couldn’t find a flow. With their lead comfortably above 20 points during the initial minutes of the frame, the Spurs turned to their deep reserves to close out the win.&nbsp;

“The final result is obviously not what we want,” Hardy said. “But I’m continuing to see improvement over the course of those 48 minutes. I have a ton of belief in this group and their ability to improve.” 

Here are three takeaways from Monday’s action.

Markkanen bounced back to lead Utah’s offense&nbsp;

In his return from a short absence due to a right wrist sprain, Markkanen struggled in Saturday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers (13 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field).&nbsp;

However, The Finnisher found his flow early against the Spurs and helped stabilize the Jazz offense. In 16 first-half minutes, Markkanen had 15 points (5-of-8 shooting from the field) and two assists, with the long ball fueling most of his success (three made 3-pointers).&nbsp;

Activity on the offensive glass helped generate some offense for Markkanen in the third quarter, with Utah’s leading scorer ending the night with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 from deep.&nbsp;

As the Jazz look to find some momentum during this road trip, Markkanen’s effort Monday night was an encouraging sign as the 7-footer continues to work his way back into a rhythm.

Okogie and Bamba provided a spark off the bench

After a slow start during the first quarter, the momentum of Monday’s briefly flipped to Utah’s favor as a result of key contributions from Okogie and Mo Bamba.

The two veterans executed the gameplan and impacted the game in expected areas. For Okogie, timely shot-making was an added bonus to his physical defense, as the wing had seven points, two offensive rebounds, and was plus-10 in the first half. Meanwhile, Bamba was a vertical option for Utah’s driving guards and cleaned up on the class (six rebounds, including four on the offensive end).&nbsp;&nbsp;

Throughout the final two quarters, both players got some run as the Jazz attempted to slow down San Antonio’s attack. Okogie ended the night with nine points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Bamba finished with eight points and eight rebounds in his 18 minutes on the floor. Midway through the final quarter, Bamba exited the game with a leg injury.&nbsp;

“You feel them when they’re in the game,” Hardy said of Okogie and Bamba. “Josh brings a great voice to our team, he communicates a lot defensively, in huddles, and to and from timeouts. Mo has been terrific in his minutes and on both sides of the glass. Both of those guys are making an impact beyond what you see in the box score.”&nbsp;

As Utah continues to search for answers in the rotation, both veterans stood out Monday night.&nbsp;

There were several key differences between the two teams Monday night, but one of the most stark contrasts came in transition.

Utah only mustered nine fast break points (on 37.5-percent shooting), while San Antonio thrived to the tune of 26 fast break points on 66.7-percent shooting.&nbsp;

Despite a similar number of turnovers between the two teams, the Spurs were aggressive in running and pushing the pace in Monday’s win. The Jazz totaled eight shot attempts in transition situations, while San Antonio attempted 15 shots in such situations.&nbsp;

As a result, the Spurs were credited with 21 transition plays, while Utah ended the night with just 10 such plays.&nbsp;

The Jazz continue their road trip Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans (6 p.m. MT, Jazz+).&nbsp;

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Utah Jazz Fall to San Antonio Spurs to Begin Road Trip: Key Takeaways 

After an extended stay at home, the Utah Jazz are hitting the road to begin November.

Utah battled through several injuries and absences during a five-game homestand at the Delta Center, which saw the team go 1-4. The latest loss came on Halloween to the Portland Trail Blazers in a game in which the Jazz couldn’t knock down shots, avoid turnovers, or keep the visitors off the free-throw line.

Utah went 11-of-40 from deep, turned it over 20 times, and put the Trail Blazers at the charity stripe for 41 attempts. Lauri Markkanen struggled in his return (13 points, 3-of-14 shooting), and Utah’s otherwise stingy defense (Portland shot under 41 percent from the field and totaled just 26 points in the paint) wasn’t enough to keep the game close.

The first stop on his four-game road trip brings Utah to San Antonio for a rematch against the Spurs.&nbsp;

A few nights ago, the shorthanded Jazz nearly pulled off an overtime upset against San Antonio, ultimately falling 117-111. In that game, Utah’s young trio of Keyonte George (31 points), Ace Bailey (19 points), and Darryn Peterson (18 points) led the way as the team’s frontcourt absences piled up.

After an 0-2 start to begin the new season, the Spurs have found their footing over the last week and won four consecutive games. Although newcomer Tobias Harris has yet to take the floor for San Antonio and there are still areas of the game for Mitch Johnson’s squad to improve in, the Spurs rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, showcasing their ability to win games in different ways.

Last season, San Antonio won two of the three meetings between the two teams.

OUT - Trey Alexander (G League - Two-Way), Kobe Bufkin (G League - Two-Way), Harrison Ingram (G League - Two-Way), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Right Knee; MCL Tear), Jusuf Nurkić (Right Foot; 2nd Plantar Plate Tear)

OUT - Tobias Harris (Left Calf Strain), Jayden Quaintance (Right Knee Surgery)

After the Halloween loss to Portland, the emerging point of emphasis for Will Hardy and his squad is the lack of ball security.&nbsp;

Utah coughed it up 20 times on Saturday, which continued a concerning trend that the team avoids to put a stop to during the road trip. On the season, the Jazz rank 25th in turnover percentage (17.3 percent), a number that could rise against a physical Spurs defense.&nbsp;

“Offensively, our ability to be solid with the ball is continuing to haunt us,” Hardy said after the loss to Portland. “I thought we gave into the physicality… We’ve got to play in straight lines, can’t dance with the ball, and when we have the advantage, we can’t give it back.”&nbsp;

In last week’s home game against the Spurs, the Jazz committed 19 turnovers, which proved to be costly in a close game. A repeat performance certainly wouldn’t help Utah in the uphill battle of a road game against the same opponent.&nbsp;

A matchup against the Spurs means that a priority will be placed on defending down low.

In last week’s game, San Antonio outscored Utah 54-34 in the paint, which represented the season-long trend. The Spurs rank third in the league in frequency of shot attempts within four feet of the rim and second in the percentage of overall points that come from inside the paint (47.4 percent).

Although Utah has done well to keep teams away from the rim (the Jazz rank fourth in opponent frequency of shot attempts at the basket), teams have found success finishing from close range when they get there (67.6 percent).

With the Spurs deploying the small starting lineup that features their guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle, their intention is to attack downhill. Utah’s perimeter defense will need to be locked in Monday night to slow down San Antonio’s offense.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Injuries have certainly forced Hardy and the Jazz to adapt on the fly to begin the season.

Whether those adjustments are to the rotations or schemes, it’s been a challenge for the overall team to find a rhythm on the offensive end. As mentioned earlier, Markkanen made his return to the lineup on Saturday but struggled to knock down shots as he dealt with the right wrist sprain.

The absences of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić have shifted Utah’s style of play, with the team now focused on setting better screens in order to help free shooters up in the halfcourt and help the guards deal with pressure and physicality.&nbsp;

After Saturday’s 11-of-40 shooting effort from downtown, Utah is at 32.1 percent from three on the season, which is coupled with a relatively low volume of attempts (35.7 per game, good for 21st in the league).&nbsp;&nbsp;

San Antonio’s defense will be a challenge, but the Jazz are looking to break out of a mini slump to begin the road trip.&nbsp;

Monday’s game tips off at 6:30 p.m. MT. Tune in to the pregame show with Alema Harrington and Mike Smith beginning at 6 p.m. MT on Jazz+!

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Preview: Utah Jazz Begin Road Trip Against San Antonio Spurs 

For the Utah Jazz, Saturday’s Halloween matinee against the Portland Trail Blazers possessed more tricks than treats.&nbsp;

A frigid night on the offensive end that also included a lack of ball security sunk the home team in a 112-90 loss to the visiting Trail Blazers. Utah failed to make shots (37 percent from the field), avoid turnovers (20), or keep Portland off the free-throw line (41 attempts), with the loss ending the team’s five-game homestand. 

Despite the return of Lauri Markkanen to the lineup, the Jazz couldn’t find a rhythm against a physical Portland squad.

“I thought we guarded well enough to win the game,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy. “Offensively, our ability to be solid with the ball is continuing to haunt us… I thought we gave into the physicality.”&nbsp;

Both teams couldn’t buy a bucket during the opening minutes of play. While Utah shot 3-of-14 from the field, Portland connected on just 2-of-9, resulting in 15 combined points after five minutes. The Trail Blazers created a slight lead during this stretch as a result of several trips to the free-throw line and timely shot-making from Damian Lillard (11 points in the frame). After beginning the game 3-of-17 from the field with five turnovers, the Jazz found themselves down 16 after Portland went on a 17-0 run midway through the quarter. A mini flurry from the second unit (10 points) helped chip away at the deficit, but Utah still went into the second quarter down 27-18.

A quick 11-1 run from the Trail Blazers to begin the second quarter pushed their lead up to 19 as Utah’s shooting slump carried over from the opening frame. Portland continued to attack the basket and draw fouls, with the visitors totaling 26 attempts from the charity stripe by halftime. The Jazz couldn’t find a flow on the offensive end throughout the first half, while on the other end of the floor the Trail Blazers started to knock down shots. At the break, Portland held a 59-41 lead. Deni Avdija’s success accurately represented the first half, as the All-Star wing had 19 points and went 10-of-11 from the line.

The beginning of the second half mirrored that of the first half, as both teams were cold out of the halftime gates. However, Portland knocked down back-to-back threes to extend the lead to 24, the largest of the night up to that point. Continuing a trend for Hardy’s squad, turnovers once again crept up in the frame (eight of them), allowing the Trail Blazers to capitalize and take an 88-64 advantage into the final 12 minutes of action.&nbsp;

Utah was able to get stops to begin the final quarter, but the continued inability to put the ball in the basket on the other end prevented a comeback attempt. After Markkanen fouled out midway through the quarter, Kyle Filipowski got an opportunity as Portland turned to some of its deeper reserves to close out the win.&nbsp;

Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s action.

Cold shooting and turnovers plagued Utah&nbsp;

In the Halloween matinee, it was a frightful outing on the offensive end of the floor for the Jazz.

In the first half, Utah could only muster 42 points on 32.5-percent shooting from the field, while a sprinkling of turnovers (nine) helped Portland generate easy scoring opportunities. The Trail Blazers dialed up the physicality on the defensive end (more on that later), which pushed Utah into several late-clock situations and difficult jumpers.&nbsp;

After entering Saturday with a plus-18 net rating in the first quarter of games this season, the Jazz fell behind early as a result of their offensive struggles. Utah’s shooting fortunes didn’t reverse in the third quarter, as the team went 7-of-20 from the field and only scored 22 points. An additional eight turnovers in the third frame resulted in Portland’s lead only growing ahead of the final quarter.&nbsp;

By the final buzzer, the Jazz had only put 90 points on the board (on 37-percent shooting from the field and 11-of-40 from deep), while 20 turnovers led directly to 20 Portland points.&nbsp;

“I thought their physicality bothered us,” Hardy said postgame. “Our screening has to improve… We didn’t handle their pressure well. Those 48 minutes of offense aren’t up to our standard.”&nbsp;

Portland’s physicality on both ends&nbsp;

As mentioned above, the Trail Blazers deploy an aggressive and physical style of play.&nbsp;

On the offensive end, Avdija led a downhill attack that both collapsed Utah’s defense and also drew plenty of contact and fouls. In the first half, Portland racked up 26 free-throw attempts, which was a key recipe in their offensive success.&nbsp;

On the defensive end, the Trail Blazers pressured full court and used their physicality to get over Utah’s screens, which often halted the action that the home team was trying to run. With a combination of size, physicality, and length on the defensive end, Portland had the matchups to make life difficult on the offensive end for the Jazz.

By the end of the night, the Trail Blazers had gone 34-of-41 from the charity stripe, forced 20 turnovers, and held Utah to 37-percent shooting from the field.&nbsp;

“You’ve got to play in straight lines and you can’t dance with the ball,” Hardy said when asked about how to deal with defensive pressure. “And when we have the advantage, we can’t give it back.”&nbsp;

Markkanen also noted postgame that the team’s bigs will need to do a better job screening in order to help the guards navigate the defensive pressure and physicality as the season progresses.&nbsp;

Peterson had flashes, while Markkanen struggled in return&nbsp;

There weren’t many bright spots for the Jazz Saturday afternoon, but the continued flashes from Darryn Peterson stood out over the course of the contest.&nbsp;

Peterson led the Jazz with 11 points (on 4-of-8 shooting) in the first half, as the 19-year-old continued to ramp up his aggressiveness from beyond the arc. Peterson also showcased some activity on the defensive end, with a steal and block during the first two quarters. Although his production slowed down during the second half (Peterson finished with 16 points and four assists), glimpses of consistency on the offensive end have become more of a trend in recent games.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Markkanen returned after a one-game absence from a right wrist sprain, giving Utah more size in the frontcourt. Unfortunately for the Jazz and Markkanen, his shot wasn’t falling on Saturday (3-of-14), which limited his overall effectiveness on the offensive end.&nbsp;

Markkanen would finish with 13 points and six rebounds in his 28 minutes on the floor, as the attention now shifts to the team’s four-game road trip.

Utah is back in action Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs (6:30 p.m. MT, Jazz+).&nbsp;

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Offensive Struggles Sink Utah Jazz in Loss to Trail Blazers: Key Takeaways 

As they’ve had to navigate through a plethora of frontcourt injuries during the opening week of the season, the Utah Jazz have been able to enjoy an extended stay at home in the Delta Center.

A five-game homestand will end on Halloween as Utah hosts the Portland Trail Blazers in a Saturday matinee.

The Jazz have gone 1-3 so far during the homestand, with a home-opening win against the New Orleans Pelicans last Friday prior to losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs.&nbsp;

The most recent game against San Antonio showcased Utah’s fight, as the Jazz battled the reigning Western Conference champions for 53 minutes, eventually falling 117-111 in overtime. Keyonte George had 31 points to lead Utah, while Ace Bailey (19 points, six rebounds) and Darryn Peterson (18 points) found success in supporting roles.&nbsp;Ball security struggles (19 turnovers) continued to persist for the Jazz, who fell behind in the possession game by the end of the night.&nbsp;

Next up for the Jazz is a matchup against a hot Trail Blazers squad. Portland won its first three games of the season as a result of the league’s top-ranked offense. A re-tooled starting backcourt of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard has provided firepower alongside Deni Avdija, while new Blazers head coach Micah Nori has been able to rely on quality depth on the second unit. Even after a shooting regression against the Grizzlies Thursday night (12-of-49 from three), the Trail Blazers still topped the league in offensive rating as of Friday morning.&nbsp;

Morant suffered a hamstring injury in that Thursday night loss, which will have the former All-Star out for several weeks.&nbsp;

Portland won all four meetings between the two teams last season.

QUESTIONABLE - Lauri Markkanen (Right Wrist; Sprain)

OUT - Jayson Kent (G League Two-Way), Ja Morant (L Hamstring Strain), Shaedon Sharpe (R Meniscus), John Tonje (G League Two-Way)

QUESTIONABLE - Robert Williams III (L Knee Injury Management), Chris Youngblood (L Ankle Soreness)

Here are three keys to Saturday’s action.&nbsp;

Rebounding has been a key point of emphasis for Utah in the early going this season, especially following the injuries to Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkić.&nbsp;

The Jazz have done well in recent games, having won the rebounding battle in each of the last four games. However, Portland represents another challenge for Will Hardy’s squad, as the Trail Blazers rank sixth in offensive rebound percentage and second in defensive rebound percentage.

Utah has had success on the defensive glass (the Jazz rank fifth in opponent offensive rebound percentage), but consistency on the offensive glass continues to be a goal for. In order to be competitive in the overall possession game, Utah will need a good effort on the boards Saturday.&nbsp;

A theme of Portland’s 3-1 start has been the team’s high-powered offense.&nbsp;

Under Nori, the Trail Blazers have been letting it fly from deep, as 46.6 percent of the team’s shot attempts have come from three in the first week of the season. That frequency ranks second in the league, with Portland’s 36.1 percent shooting on that high volume serving as a real threat for defenses.&nbsp;

Although the Jazz have done well to limit 3-point attempts (they rank fifth in the frequency of opponent 3-point attempts), teams have connected on just under 38 percent of those looks, the fifth-best in the league.&nbsp;

With Lillard back on the floor (9.3. 3-point attempts per game), Portland’s offense has adjusted around an emphasis on deep shots.&nbsp;

While Utah’s efforts on the glass have been impressive in recent games, ball security has been a persistent struggle.

The Jazz rank 21st in turnover percentage as of Friday, coughing it up on 16.6 percent of their possessions. Utah has turned it over 17 or more times in four of the first five games, although Portland’s defense may be a helpful matchup to right the ship in that area of the game.

The Trail Blazers rank 25th in opponent turnover percentage, with a less aggressive defensive scheme this season relying on drop coverage in the pick-and-roll. If the Jazz can battle on the boards and limit their turnovers, they’ll have a good chance to end the homestand with a win.

Saturday’s game tips off at 1 p.m. MT. Tune in to the pregame show with Alema Harrington and Mike Smith beginning at 12:30 p.m. MT on Jazz+!

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Preview: Utah Jazz End Homestand Against Portland Trail Blazers 

After waiting all summer for real action, fans are understandably chomping at the bit to analyze and react to the first few games of a new campaign. For the Utah Jazz, a 1-4 start has created some interesting trends and takeaways, with the caveat being that the sample size is simply too small to accept anything as truly sustainable for all 82 games.&nbsp;

The injuries to Utah’s frontcourt (most notably the 6-to-8 week absence for Jaren Jackson Jr.) has forced Jazz head coach Will Hardy to adjust the rotation and experiment with different lineup combinations. Jaxson Hayes went down in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers prior to Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen exiting Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Markkanen is day-to-day with a right wrist sprain, which will create opportunities for some of Utah’s other wings and big men.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Keyonte George has thrived out of the gates, averaging 24.4 points and 6.8 assists per game on 49.4-percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent from deep. Ace Bailey has stood out on both ends of the floor, while rookie Darryn Peterson has shown flashes throughout his first five games in the league.&nbsp;

With several games in the books, it’s time to check in with Jazz Nation and answer some mailbag questions.&nbsp;

There will likely be several different starting lineups in the coming games and weeks, as Hayes and Markkanen work their way back from their injuries. In Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Hardy opted to start George, Peterson, Bailey, Josh Green, and Hayes.

After the overtime loss, Hardy emphasized that the decision to go with Green instead of Josh Okogie came down to Bailey’s success on the boards to start the season, with Okogie’s impact on the glass therefore being more useful on the second unit. 

When Markkanen is back, he’ll take back the starting four spot, with Bailey, Peterson, and George continuing to make up the backcourt and wing. Both Green and Okogie will see more playing time as the Jazz rely on smaller lineups, while Mo Bamba has earned more opportunities down low.&nbsp;

Heading into the season, the Jazz were relying on overwhelming size at nearly every position. Although Utah’s rotation has downsized as a result of the injuries, there will still be quality size in a Bailey, Markkanen, and Hayes frontcourt as Utah awaits the returns of Jusuf Nurkić and Jackson Jr.&nbsp;

As for Bailey playing more at the four, the second-year wing certainly has the height and length to play the position, especially in today’s NBA. Against San Antonio, Bailey had 19 points, six rebounds, and one block, with his inside scoring (8-of-12 inside the arc) fueling his success. With his effective pursuit of the ball and length, the 20-year-old has flashed impressive rebounding to start the season, which the Jazz will certainly need to sustain as they navigate this stretch without several big men.&nbsp;

It’s no coincidence that in the first full game without Jackson Jr. and Markkanen, Bailey set a new season-high with 18 shot attempts against the Spurs. It wasn’t as much a result of Utah specifically running more offense for Bailey to get shots off, but more so because the second-year wing thrives with his ability to quickly rise up for jumpers.

Without Markkanen and Jackson Jr., Bailey became more of a target within the offense, receiving more hand-offs and opportunities to get to his mid-range spots. In late clock situations, the Jazz can rely on Bailey’s shot-making from the mid-range, while his long strides can help him get to comfort zones.

Even without the long ball falling (1-of-6), Bailey was able to score 19 points on 50-percent shooting from the field because of that aforementioned success inside the arc. One of the hallmark skills for Bailey coming out of Rutgers was his ability to take and make difficult shots. Although Utah is always looking to generate a clean look each time down the floor, having Bailey find a groove in a larger role over the coming weeks will certainly help the second-year wing continue to impact the game on both ends.

“He’s really carrying out his role,” Hardy said of Bailey. “He’s trying to contribute to winning on both sides of the ball. He has to be a cutter and crasher when the ball doesn’t find him. It’s dirty work and he’s embraced doing that over and over again.”

Anytime a former Defensive Player of the Year goes down, the team’s defense is going to suffer.

It’s hard to take anything away from the limited sample of the first three games of this season, which makes it difficult to quantify the impact that Jackson Jr.’s absence will have on Utah’s defense. However, the Jazz were hoping to use their overwhelming size in the frontcourt to help seal off the paint and make life difficult for teams driving towards the hoop.

Utah has limited opponent shot attempts from within four feet of the rim (just 24.9 percent through the first five games), but struggles to force turnovers and avoid fouls have hurt the team’s overall defense.&nbsp;

Throughout his career, Jackson Jr. has been a dynamic shot blocker and rim protector, which is a part of defense that Utah will have to get from others such as Hayes and Bailey. The Jazz will also likely be turning to smaller lineups with Jackson Jr. out of the lineup, which will create more emphasis on team rebounding in order to end defensive possessions.&nbsp;

The true impact of Jackson Jr.’s injury on Utah’s defense will be revealed as the sample size gets larger in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

If the main talking point about Utah’s start to the season has become the plethora of injuries, then discussing Bailey’s emergence has to be right up there in the conversation.&nbsp;

To begin his second season in the league, Bailey has become one of Utah’s most reliable players on both ends of the floor. The 20-year-old has impressed on the glass (eight rebounds per game, including 15 on the offensive end) and embraced the challenge of guarding the opponent’s best players on the perimeter.&nbsp;

Bailey has totaled eight blocks through the first five games of the season, while Utah’s defensive rebounding has improved significantly with him on the floor. As a result, the Jazz defense has been 9.9 points per 100 possessions better with Bailey on the court. Of course, it’s a small sample size that will shift dramatically each night until the number of games increases.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, George has also embraced the task of guarding on the perimeter. In Utah’s home opener against the Pelicans, George successfully shut down a drive from Dejounte Murray before taking a key charge against Zion Williamson. 

In the small sample of five games, Utah’s defense has fared better with George on the floor, but Hardy continues to challenge the fourth-year guard and all of Utah’s backcourt members.&nbsp;

“You have to earn ‘not being hunted’,” Hardy said prior to Utah’s game against the Lakers. “Young guards get hunted in our league. He needs to stand tall and hold his space. I’m super proud of the charge late in the game (against New Orleans).”&nbsp;

On Peterson’s shot selection, the trend has indeed been to focus on getting off floaters and short jumpers inside the paint rather than getting all the way to the hoop. Through the first five games, just 12 percent of Peterson’s shots have come within four feet of the rim, while 49 percent have come from the “floater” zone (outside of four feet but within the free-throw line).&nbsp;

For starters, it is usually difficult to get all the way to the rim in the halfcourt. Teams typically design defensive schemes centered around preventing such shots, given that they are the most efficient available to an offense.

Utah’s offense also hasn’t generated a high volume of rim attempts in recent years. The Jazz have ranked 24th or lower in frequency of shots within four feet of the basket in each of the last four seasons, instead relying on a mix of 3-point attempts and shots from the short mid-range or floater zone.&nbsp;

One other aspect of Peterson’s beginning to the season is his focus on gaining comfort as a 3-point shooter within the flow of the offense. Against Memphis on Monday night, the 19-year-old went 3-of-5 from deep, showcasing his ability to hit difficult threes out of the pick-and-roll. The second pick in this year’s draft followed that effort up with a 3-of-8 shooting night from downtown against the Spurs, once again increasing the aggressiveness with his attempts.&nbsp;

Following Wednesday’s shootaround, Peterson mentioned his growing comfort level in getting those deep attempts up within the offense, emphasizing that adjusting to the speed and athleticism of the NBA game has forced him to work within smaller open spaces as a shooter.

This question came in prior to Monday’s game against Memphis, which saw Utah’s frontcourt take a hit as a result of the injuries to Jackson Jr. and Markkanen, which has stressed the rotation even further.

The beginning of every season involves plenty of experimentation when it comes to lineup combinations. When you add in Utah’s lack of availability down low, Hardy and the Jazz have had to rely on others to step up. As a result, very few lineups have generated much of a sample size to begin the season.

The five-man group with the most playing time is the prior starting five with George, Peterson, Bailey, Markkanen, and Jackson Jr., which had a -2.2 net rating across 89 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass. After that, the next most-used lineup has been on the floor for less than 30 possessions, making the sample too small to take anything away from the results.

Instead, looking at smaller lineup combinations can provide a glimpse into some potential trends. For example, the lineups with George, Peterson, and Bailey together on the floor have posted a plus-5.5 net rating across 167 possessions, a result driven by efficient offense (118 offensive rating). 

There are many more games to come which will create more opportunities for lineups to gel and for Utah’s coaching staff to truly digest the results and make adjustments.

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Utah Jazz Mailbag: Ace Bailey’s Hot Start, Impact of Injuries, And More 

The Utah Jazz have been forced to adopt a next man up mentality during the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season, with their fight on full display Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs.

The shorthanded Jazz faced San Antonio without Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkić, which put Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and Darryn Peterson in featured roles. That trio thrived to the tune of 68 combined points and helped Utah battle into overtime, but the Spurs eventually closed out the 117-111 road win. The visitors were led by a dominant performance from Victor Wembanyama (36 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists).

“I’m proud of the team’s fight,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy. “That’s a really good basketball team we played against. I thought we did a lot of good things tonight, I think our defense is continuing to improve.”&nbsp;

Yet again, the Jazz got off to a fast start in the opening quarter. Heading into Wednesday’s action, Utah had the sixth-best net rating (plus-12.6) in first quarters this season and the home team replicated that success against San Antonio. George had 13 points in the opening frame while Isaiah Collier led the second unit with six points and two assists. The Jazz used an edge on the boards (which included six offensive rebounds) to create a 32-22 lead after the first 12 minutes of action.&nbsp;

San Antonio began to chip away at the lead to begin the second quarter, eventually getting within five points before most of Utah’s starters checked back in. Both teams struggled with ball security during the frame, combining for 11 turnovers. After the Jazz briefly built the lead back up to 11, the Spurs used an 11-2 run to get back within two points. At the halftime break, Utah held a slim 55-51 advantage. Wembanyama led all scorers with 21 points across the first two quarters, which came on 9-of-14 shooting from the field.

Back-to-back threes helped San Antonio regain the lead early in the third quarter as Utah’s offense stagnated out of the halftime gates. Over the ensuing minutes, the teams traded buckets before Utah slightly pulled away with a five-point lead midway through the frame. The Jazz got timely contributions from their second unit to maintain the lead throughout most of the quarter, but the Spurs got a bucket to end the frame and tie the game at 85 heading into the final 12 minutes.&nbsp;

San Antonio jumped out to a six-point lead early in the fourth, but a personal 6-0 run from George tied the game again with eight minutes left on the clock. The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair until the final minutes, setting up more crunch time opportunities for the young Jazz squad to navigate. Back-to-back buckets from Brice Sensabaugh and George tied the game at 105 with 41 seconds left. After the Jazz got a stop, George missed a go-ahead 3-pointer with a few seconds remaining, which sent the game to overtime.

Both squads were cold to begin the extra period before Brice Sensabaugh (16 points in the game) knocked down a deep 3-pointer to break the dry spell. Unfortunately for Utah, they failed to score in the subsequent minutes as the Spurs pulled away for the overtime victory.&nbsp;

“I see a lot of things trending in a good direction,” Hardy added postgame. “Credit to the Spurs, they upped their physicality in OT. Turnovers are a huge issue, we need to clean up our ball security… (But) the intent of the team on both sides of the ball tonight was good.”&nbsp;

Here are key takeaways from Wednesday’s action.

George, Bailey, and Peterson led Utah&nbsp;

With Utah’s frontcourt rotation taking a hit as a result of the injuries to Jackson Jr., Markkanen, and Nurkić, the Jazz relied on their perimeter players to lead the offense.

In the first half, the trio of George, Peterson, and Bailey found success from all over the floor. George led the charge early with 13 points in the first quarter, while Bailey and Peterson weren’t far behind by the halftime break. Bailey scored 12 points in the first half and continued to provide activity on the defensive end, while Peterson found a rhythm from deep (3-of-6 in the first half) to contribute 11 points by the break.

In the third quarter, the trio combined for 17 more points to keep Utah neck-and-neck with the visiting Spurs. By the final buzzer, Utah had gotten 68 points from the three young perimeter players, with George leading the way (31 points). Bailey (19 points, six rebounds) and Peterson (18 points) had standout moments throughout the night, nearly pushing the Jazz to an upset victory at home.&nbsp;

An impressive effort on the defensive end

With their former Defensive Player of the Year sidelined for the foreseeable future, Utah’s success on the defensive end will have to be generated by others in the rotation.&nbsp;

To begin Wednesday’s game, the Jazz got after it on that end of the floor, holding San Antonio to just 22 points in the first quarter on 40-percent shooting from the field. Although the Spurs had more success in the second frame, the visitors still only had 51 points at the break on 44-percent shooting.

Meanwhile, the Jazz used a 28-21 edge on the glass to help overcome their eight turnovers and maintain a lead by the end of the first half. Josh Okogie was a key figure in Utah’s efforts on the offensive glass, as the veteran wing grabbed three in his first-half minutes.

Throughout the second half, the Spurs battled back on the boards but struggled to consistently make shots against the Jazz defense. San Antonio ended the night at under 44-percent from the field and 32-percent from downtown (12-of-38).

“We’re flying around,” Hardy said of the team’s defensive effort. “Our team’s contesting, showing early crowds, and using our physicality was pretty good. Our ability to focus on the defensive end is improving.”&nbsp;

Although the Spurs did have all five starters finish in double-figures, the impact that Wembanyama had on the game can’t be overstated.&nbsp;

The French big man had the long ball falling (four made threes), which stretched Utah’s defense out in hopes of slowing him down. Of course, Wembanyama is also a wide target around the rim, with San Antonio’s guards often finding him for dunks.&nbsp;

In the first half, Wembanyama had 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field to lead the Spurs. Although Utah did well to slow down his production throughout the second half, the two-time All-Star still finished the night with 36 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, and was plus-14 in the box score.&nbsp;

The Jazz wrap up their homestand Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers (1 p.m. MT, Jazz+).&nbsp;