PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 13: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 13, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
Another game, another new player makes his debut for the Utah Jazz. This time it was Bez Mbeng, an intriguing guard who was three-time Ivy League Defender of the Year. After a brief shoot around initiation, he was thrust into the limelight
Friday night against a tough Portland team with its eye on the Play-In Tournament. The Jazz started on a tear, scoring an impressive 38 points in the first quarter and harrying the Blazers with their gritty defense. The home team caught up in the second quarter, finally pulling away late for a 124-114 victory.
Brice Sensabaugh – A
Brice was sensational, continuing his hot streak from 3, shooting a blistering 75% (6-8) on the night. But his extended minutes also gave him the opportunity to showcase his mid-range game and his improving defensive presence. Along with his 31 points, he finished with 2 steals and a block.
Kyle Filipowski – A
Flip continues to fill up the stat sheet, showing his skills as a defender and playmaker. He helped fuel the offensive explosion in the first quarter with 2 threes, is a willing screener and is finding ways to defend without fouling. He ended the game with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals and was +12 while he was on the court.
Ace Bailey – A
Ace’s confidence is growing in leaps and bounds, starting the game with a smooth jumper and adding 2 threes in the first quarter. It’s a shame he was sidelined for the rest of the game with concussion symptoms as his energy and elite scoring is contagious.
Isaiah Collier – A-
With Keyonte George injured, Isaiah delivered a number of jaw dropping assists, from wrap around passes to heat seeking missiles. His shooting was inconsistent, going 6-15 from the field, but in the fourth quarter he showed his ability to bully his way into the paint, scoring 8 points in a row when the team’s offense faltered. He has an edge to his play, trading barbs with big man Donovan Clingan after a hard foul.
Cody Williams – A-
Cody continues to see his role expand as the season draws to a close, playing a team high 36 minutes and scoring a career high 19 points. He shows a lot more confidence driving to the basket, but also had a couple of ill-advised forays that were quickly stifled by the Blazers defense. His defensive intensity is adding to his value on the court, reeling in a team high 7 rebounds.
Elijah Harkless – B-
Elijah had a rough night shooting (2-8) and had little impact on the game until the second half, when he made 2 threes. He was active on defense, particularly after half-time, coming up with 2 steals to go along with his 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Oscar Tshiebwe – B
Oscar showed off some of his shot making range with a nifty push shot from the key in the fourth quarter. He also stepped up in the second quarter to bring a much-needed end to the Jazz’s fatal scoring drought. He had 5 rebounds, including 2 on the offensive end. He needs to continue to develop his ability to impact shots and clog the lane on defense.
Andersson Garcia – B-
After getting the game ball in his first outing for the Jazz, Andersson continued to show some of the tenacity that earned him his chance with the team. He played great defense against Scoot Henderson in the first quarter and was very active in keeping plays alive on the offensive end. He also showed some playmaking ability, doling out dimes to Flip and Oscar in the fourth quarter. He was ice cold from 3 (0-3) and will need to develop more consistent shooting to earn a roster spot next year.
Bez Mbeng – B
Given the baptism of fire Bez received on the road Friday night, it’s understandable that he only shot 25% from the field and was 0-3 from three. But the rest of his game showed glimpses of potential that will be exciting to watch in the coming weeks. Bez scored his first NBA basket in the second quarter with a strong drive to the hoop, finishing with the left hand. He grabbed 4 rebounds, including 3 on the offensive end, blocked 2 shots and dished out 4 assists.
