The Utah Jazz have lost a lot this season. And lately, they've had it rough - eight games straight and 16 of their last 19 games coming into Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic.
The Magic have had it pretty rough, too - losing eight of their last 10 and watching their 17-9 start turn into a 24-23 record. They entered a six-game road trip with most of their key players available, save Jalen Suggs.
And the one key rotation player that has yet to miss time, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, was a late scratch against the Jazz, not due to injury, but to rest? Maybe the Magic thought they had this one in the bag and didn't need him.
Perhaps they should have checked the last time they played the Jazz, when the Magic gave up 58 points to the Jazz bench, in a 105-92 Jazz victory.
It was more of the same
Before the game even tipped off, reports of Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills being part of a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers surfaced, and both were held out of the game as a result.
This one started slow for both teams, with the score being 3-2 for Orlando with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter, and it looked like neither team was going to give the fans much to cheer about.
Enter Isaiah Collier.
The Jazz rookie, making his 14th start, drilled a three-pointer from the parking lot, then drove for a layup. He led the break on the next possession and dished a beauty to John Collins for the slam. And he wasn't done - next time down, he dished to Lauri Markkanen for a 27-foot bomb for three, bringing the Jazz crowd to life and giving the Jazz a 12-5 lead, leading to a quick Orlando timeout.
The Isaiah Collier experience
— Richie Ostler (@RichieOstler3) February 1, 2025
Gets the steal then sets up Collins for an easy dunk in transition
Then gets the rebound and sets up Lauri Markkanen for a wide-open 3 in transition
Good start for Collier, 5 points and 2 assists in the first 5 minutes pic.twitter.com/IpwHHTrABo
Then, the rest of the Jazz got into the act. They extended the lead to 10 by the end of the first quarter, 31-21, and the Delta Center was rocking!
The second quarter saw the Magic cut the lead as low as four before the Jazz reasserted and extended it as high as 17, with many misses and fouls to boot. By halftime, it was 59-47 for the Jazz.
The third would see John Collins and Collin Sexton score seven points apiece, as the Jazz pushed the lead as high as 20 before leading by 16 going into the fourth quarter.
And just when it seemed the Jazz might surrender the lead and let Orlando back in the game, the Flamethrower emerged. Jordan Clarkson stepped up with 14-fourth quarter points, including four big three-pointers that shot Orlando's comeback down.
By the end, the Jazz emerged victorious 113-99, holding Orlando to 26 or fewer points in three of the four quarters.
Sexton led all scorers with 22 points, plus five rebounds and eight assists.
Collier finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal in 28 minutes.
Walker Kessler had 15 rebounds on the night to go with eight points, a steal and a block in 33 minutes.
Collins had 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks, and multiple fast-break dunks on the night.
Markkanen had a well-rounded night with 12 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and three blocked shots.
Clarkson (16 points, two steals) and Keyonte George (12 points, four rebounds, four assists) led the bench mob, which kept the Jazz lead safe.
And the Jazz broke an eight-game losing streak at a crucial juncture before next week's trade deadline, with just under two weeks until the All-Star break.
Now, they will have some tough games between now and the break, but getting a win now felt needed, and seeing the young guys like Collier be a big reason why makes it even better.