Keyonte George scores a career-high 39 points as Jazz beat Grizzlies 130-126

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, left, shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, left, shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells, left, drives against Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells, left, drives against Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, top left, shoots ahead of Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, top left, shoots ahead of Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Keyonte George scored a career-high 39 points, including the final six points for Utah, as the Jazz beat Memphis 130-126 on Friday night in Ja Morant's return to the Grizzlies' lineup.

The score was tied at 126 with just under a minute left when George hit a 22-footer to put Utah ahead for good. He converted two more free throws with 6.8 seconds left for the final margin as the Jazz snapped a two-game skid.

Lauri Markkanen had 26 points and nine rebounds, and Kevin Love added 20 — including 13 in the third quarter — as the Jazz stayed within striking distance. George also had eight assists.

Santi Aldama scored 22 points to lead Memphis, and Morant — who missed the previous 10 games with a right calf sprain — added 21 points and 10 assists. Cam Spencer finished with 20, including making all six of his 3-pointers.

Memphis held a 64-61 lead at halftime despite George tallying 27 points. Neither team led by double digits in the first two quarters.

Memphis held double-digit leads in the third quarter, but a pair of 3-pointers by Kevin Love in the final minute of the third, part of him scoring 13 in the quarter. gave the Jazz a 103-97 lead entering the fourth.

Utah had lost seven of the last 10. The three recent losses were by at least 28 points.

Memphis entered the game at 11-13 and has feasted on sub-.500 teams. Of those 11 wins, only one — a 114-113 victory at Phoenix on Oct. 29 — came against a team above .500. Six of those teams are below the Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings.

Up next

Jazz: Host Dallas on Monday to open a three-game homestand.

Grizzlies: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

 

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