The Utah Jazz couldn’t get it done against the Bulls in Chicago. And to make matters worse, I’m here to announce that school is back in session. On Brice Sensabaugh’s career night, Utah wasn’t able to finish
the job and steal what would have been their second-straight W. Instead, they suffered the sting of defeat, and worse yet, will now have to endure my post-game ramblings.
Here are the report cards for Utah’s disappointing 126-128 night in the Windy City.
Keyonte George – A-
Keyonte is radiating confidence these days, and he plays like it. He’s decisive, quick, deliberate, and simply gliding across the court. Watching him play basketball is immensely satisfying, even when he struggles, as he did in the first half of this one. He woke up a bit in the fourth with a pair of and-ones, gathering sufficient momentum to power his puncturing drive-first-ask-questions-later attack. When the long-ball wasn’t falling, Keyonte found solutions — that’s what great scorers do. That’s what leaders do.
But the most underrated aspect of George’s game during an All-Star hopeful season has been his playmaking ability. He runs the pick-and-roll like a seasoned veteran, spearheading a do-or-die combination with nearly any screen partner on the floor. Tonight, especially in the clutch, Keyonte flipped the switch and took control of the game. When it mattered most, the clutch gene kicked in. Key finished with 15 points in the fourth quarter and 25 points overall, paired with 7 assists and a steal.
Ace Bailey – B
Sir Airious has returned to his court. Ace, in his return from injury, lived airborne, far above the rim in the United Center. 10 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds make for a respectable return for Utah’s chosen son. He is vicious, he is merciless, but he is just. Off the dribble, via lob pass, and especially while cutting baseline, Bailey’s hands may be a bit blistered from all that hanging on the rim. I’d recommend talking to Ice Brice about that, but, well…
Brice Sensabaugh – A++
Brice Sensabaugh is liquid fire. He posted 21 points in the first quarter on 8/9 shooting (3/3 from deep) in the first seven minutes of his night. He’s the first Jazzman to post 20+ in a quarter since Deron Williams. Ice Brice needs to chill. He had 28 points by halftime, the most since Mitchell in 2021 and second-most all-time in Utah.
Tonight marks a career-high for Brice, who finished with an unearthly 43 points in 34 minutes of burn. All that scoring punch forced the Bulls to collapse in on him whenever he put the ball to the floor, and Not bad for the third-year bench scorer.
Cody Williams – B
Utah picked Cody 10th overall, while Matas Buzelis was still on the board. Buzelis, Williams’ counterpart, was taken 11th. Their careers have begun drastically differently. Those still cheering for Williams to become a reliable rotation-level contributor now celebrate even the smallest nuggets of in-game competency.
In Chicago, however, Williams was active on defense, deflecting balls, blocking shots, and looking ahead to push the pace. He’s been good for a few early slams a game. Cody is still a work in progress, but is (for the most part) steadily progressing this season. He ran late into this game, collecting over 30 minutes of run-time in this one.
Isaiah Collier – B-
Collier’s alarm clock sounded at the onset of the second half. After a goose egg in the scoring column through the first 24, Collier entered the third quarter with a drive that had been largely absent to that point. Attacking the rim relentlessly and plugging dribble penetration on the other end, Zay’s contributions changed the dynamic of this game in the third.
Kyle Filipowski – B+
Filipowski is an absolute blind spot for me. I never seem to notice as it happens, but Flip regularly puts together very decent statlines. Tonight was no exception, as he quietly managed 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Walter Clayton – C
A misdirection lob pass right on target for a Cody Williams yam? I may as well have seen ten million fireflies light up the world as I fell asleep — that was an unbelievable visual.
Clayton still has room for growth in his NBA portfolio, but he’s beginning to look very comfortable as a pro. He’s the steadying hand that handles Utah’s offense when Keyonte takes a breather, and he did his job tonight. Still, I have to ding him for poor shooting numbers tonight — it’s nothing personal.
Kyle Anderson – B+
Kyle Anderson seems to never make a mistake when he takes the floor for Will Hardy. I guess that’s exactly what you want in a veteran player on a rebuilding roster. He doesn’t force the issue, doesn’t hog the ball, nor does he display poor habits for his younger teammates. For that, Mr. Anderson, you receive my applause.
Taylor Hendricks – 🙁
I can’t let go of the mirage I witnessed of Taylor Hendricks this past fall. He was so, so solid in the preseason, but has been an absolute non-factor all season. Tonight was no exception, as he posted just three points in 14 minutes.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
