The Jazz suffered a 147-111 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday, officially eliminating them from playoff contention, according to the NBA league office (Twitter link).
At 20-49, the best Utah could do is tie 10th-place Golden State (33-36), but even in that unlikely scenario, the Warriors would win the tie-breaker. The Jazz become the fifth team to be eliminated, joining Indiana, Sacramento, Washington and Brooklyn.
Wednesday’s game was never really close, even though the Timberwolves were playing without Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Naz Reid (right shoulder contusion). Ayo Dosunmu, who was acquired at the trade deadline, made his second straight start and led Minnesota with 23 points.
As expected, it’s been a rough season for the Jazz, who haven’t been above .500 since getting off to a 2-1 start. They went through a four-game losing streak in November, another four-game skid in December, a five-game slide in late December and early January, then slipped far out of play-in territory by losing 10 of 11 games starting in mid-January.
Injuries to Lauri Markkanen contributed to the decline as the star forward has only played 42 times and has been available just once since February 11 due to a right hip impingement. He hasn’t been ruled out for the season, but there’s little incentive for him to return with Utah already out of postseason contention.
Starting center Walker Kessler suffered a torn left shoulder labrum early in the season and only appeared in five games.
The Jazz had been projected to finish among the bottom teams in the league, putting themselves in position to land one of the top picks in a loaded draft. Utah currently holds the fifth-worst record and is three games away from Brooklyn for a bottom-three spot and a share of the best odds heading into the lottery.
The Jazz may have been too aggressive in their pursuit of tanking, as they were fined $500K last month for “conduct detrimental to the league” after sitting Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the fourth quarters of games February 7 at Orlando and February 9 at Miami.
The blockbuster trade that brought Jackson from Memphis signified that Utah is ready to start winning soon. Jackson underwent knee surgery three games after joining the Jazz, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of next season, along with Kessler, who’s headed for restricted free agency but is considered likely to be re-signed.
The Jazz will head into next season looking for their first winning record and playoff appearance since 2021/22.
Trade Lauri and JJJ at the draft.
Draft Boozer and a C
Sign Jordan Clarkson and Kevin Love
Utah would be in perfect shape
Jazz suck. And they are not jazzy in the least.
I’m sure that Ainge popped the champagne. But he knows they’ve accomplished nothing yet, as the real goal (a top – bottom – 3 finish) is still out there.
Outranking 2 of the Pacers, Nets, Kings, and Wizards is going to take a real Herculean effort…
Yep. But getting to the top (bottom) of the standings isn’t supposed to be easy.
Lauri won’t be off the pine anytime soon I bet so that’s a good start! Masterful job by ainge so far though lol; sensabaugh and collier next two to go out..ear surgery maybe? 😂 NBA will probably go ahead this summer (after this draft of course) and flatten lottery odds even more to more of a bottom 6-10, vs the current preference of the top (bottom really) 3,4, especially with expansion on the horizon
Markkanen’s number of games per season at Utah:
2022-23: 66
2023-24: 55
2024-25: 47
2025-26: 42
Meanwhile phantom injuries now end his seasons in early February.
Considering Markkanen’s affluence and spare time, he could take up a few new hobbies. Painting or travel blogging come to mind. Maybe even a second profession, like commercial diving. These guys stay inside their pressure chambers for up to a month at a time. So, no problems here and still more productive than riding the pine and watching his ragtag bunch of teammates lose night after night.
Jazz ownership are liars, which suggests the franchise needs to be sold.
They told the public they would not tank this year. It was a straight up lie and I’m glad the NBA fined them for intentionally losing games. The Jazz should refund all ticket sales for deceiving the public.
I have no respect for what they’ve done and will not until they publicly apologize for lying.
Just a shame for Jazz fans that pay to go see this team.
This team has talent and is not this bad.
Let’s hope a team that just misses playoffs gets number one pick again.
Teams that are tanking, surely it would affect the players in negative ways
The Basketball Gods are watching.
Since 2023 Jazz had — Picks #9, #16, #28
— 2024 Jazz had — Picks #10, #29, #32
— 2025 Jazz had — Picks #5, #21, #43, #53
— 2026 Jazz have — their own pick top8 protected
Plus they will receive least of Minnys or Clev pick.
Since 2023 Jazz will get nine 1st rd picks. Three 2nd rd picks. And 5 lottery picks from group. LOLS
Thats a 15 man roster in 4 yrs. Added to players — Laurie, JJJ, Kessler, Nurkic, Konchar, Mykhailiuk.
They should give back the name n NO history. They can save two cities.