CHICAGO — After burying the dagger 3-pointer, the last of his six makes from downtown and the only one not coming via marvelous ball movement by the Utah Jazz, Keyonte George turned to the Chicago Bulls’ bench and jiggled three fingers.
Finally, the Jazz had reason to celebrate.
George tied his career high of 33 points to help them secure their first victory of the NBA season, a 135-126 road win over the Bulls on Monday. Utah entered the night as the league’s only winless team.
“We had enough,” George said. “We wanted to come in and show that we could compete at a high level and play together, play the right way. That’s what everybody (saw Monday).”
the bench is ✨loving✨ it pic.twitter.com/ayo7VcNFcV
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 5, 2024
Despite playing without leading scorer Lauri Markkanen (lower back spasms) and veteran Jordan Clarkson (left foot plantar fasciitis), the Jazz (1-6) crafted their best offensive performance of the young season. They set season highs for points scored, field goals made, field goal percentage, 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage and assists.
“I’m happy for the guys,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “They’ve battled. They’ve stayed together. Nobody’s complained. Starting the season 0-6 is not easy. And with the injuries and things that have gone on and changing lineups, I’m proud of them and the way they’ve stuck together. I thought (Monday) was a great representation of the team spirit that we want to have.”
Utah dished 35 assists on 48 made field goals. Equally impressive is the Jazz finishing with only 13 turnovers. They traveled to Chicago averaging a league-worst 20.2 turnovers and were fresh off totaling 50 combined in their previous two contests.
“Obviously the stats ended up being good,” Hardy said, “but it’s less about that and more about how the game unfolded and how everybody felt a part of it, the rhythm of the game.”
At their morning shootaround, the Jazz emphasized accelerating the pace, moving the ball earlier in the shot clock and simplifying spacing.
“We needed to really strip it down and do less (and) better,” Hardy said. “I felt like the guys did that.”
From the game’s first bucket, a 3 by George, the Bulls — playing without injured guards Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball — looked overwhelmed. The Jazz, in the second of a four-game trip, won three out of four quarters and used their size advantage to dominate the rebounding category 49-36.
Walker Kessler snared a game-high 16 rebounds and added four blocked shots, and John Collins had his best game of the season with 28 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, taking advantage of smaller defenders on switches while adding some strong finishes.
John Collins with a STUFF‼️ pic.twitter.com/io3zIDxsZj
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 5, 2024
“They’re all trying to figure out how they fit together best, and I think (Monday) was just a good representation of trusting the next guy,” Hardy said. “I thought there were very few possessions where we overdribbled. That has been a massive issue the first six games of the year.”
George showed as much aptitude for spraying around passes as he did with splashing in shots. The second-year guard recorded a game-high nine assists and committed only two turnovers in 39 minutes. He assisted five different teammates and helped the Jazz get Collins going early.
“His understanding of the floor game and how to get his teammates involved and trying to recognize how everybody’s being guarded and how we’re being guarded, that is an area where he’s really grown,” Hardy said of George.
Additionally, George also got to the free-throw line a career-high 13 times and made a career-best 11. He missed the first of a pair with 23 seconds left that would have given him a career-high in scoring.
It took Utah almost two weeks to get its first taste of victory.
“It’s about time!” George shouted on his march to the winning locker room.
(Photo: David Banks / Imagn Images)
