Keyonte George capped a 31-point performance with a go-ahead floater with 2.1 seconds remaining, Lauri Markkanen chipped in with 30 points and the Utah Jazz stunned the visiting Detroit Pistons 131-129 in Salt Lake City on Friday night.
Seeking a fourth straight win and a season-series sweep of the Jazz, the Pistons rallied into a 129-all tie with 18.1 seconds left after a four-point flurry by Cade Cunningham, who had a dunk, a steal and two free throws over a 46-second stretch.
But the Jazz then put the ball in George’s hands, and the third-year guard came through with his difference-making eight-footer.
The Pistons had a subsequent shot at a win, but Cunningham misfired from 27 feet, allowing Utah to snap a four-game losing streak.
Down by as many as 15 while the Jazz were exploding for 44 points in the third quarter, the Pistons gradually chipped away at the deficit, getting within eight by period’s end and later 127-123 with 3:53 remaining.
Cunningham’s personal four-point flurry finally drew the visitors even with 18.1 seconds left, but left enough time for George to be the hero.
The 30-point effort was the 14th of George’s career. He hit 12 of his 22 shots and also found time for eight assists.
Brice Sensabaugh added 20 points, Jusuf Nurkic 16 and Kevin Love 14 for Utah, which used a 25-15 advantage in free-throw points to help make the difference in the game. Markkanen went 10-for-10 at the line.
Nurkic completed a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds, while Isaiah Collier had a team-high nine assists to go with nine points off the Utah bench.
Cunningham finished with a team-high 29 points and a game-high 17 assists for the Pistons, who were playing their third road game in five nights bridging Christmas.
Tobias Harris (16), Duncan Robinson (14), Jalen Duren (11), Ronald Holland II (11), Caris LeVert (11) and Jaden Ivey (11) also scored in double figures for Detroit. Harris was the club’s leading rebounder with seven.
–Field Level Media
