12/26/25 11:36:00
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12/26 23:34 CST George scores 31 and hits game winner as Jazz edge Pistons
131-129
George scores 31 and hits game winner as Jazz edge Pistons 131-129
By MATTHEW COLES
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) --- Keyonte George scored 31 points and hit a floater in
the lane with 2.1 seconds remaining as the Utah Jazz snapped a four-game losing
streak with a 131-129 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
Cade Cunningham, who had 29 points and 17 assists, missed a contested shot at
the buzzer and then had a long conversation with the officials before leaving
the court. Cunningham had a personal-best 13 assists in the first half.
Lauri Markkanen scored 30 points and Brice Sensabaugh equaled his season high
of 20 points filling in for Ace Bailey, who missed the second half with a hip
injury.
Tobias Harris had 16 points for the Pistons, who lost for just the second time
in their last nine games despite shooting 52.2% from the field and making 18 of
37 from 3-point range.
George stole a backcourt pass and threw down a breakaway dunk to give the Jazz
a 129-125 lead with 1:14 remaining. Caris LaVert blocked George and Cunningham
stole the ball. Cunningham's free throws tied the game at 129-129.
Utah's largest lead came with 2:34 left in the third quarter, 104-89, after
Kevin Love's three free throws. Love had 11 in the period as the Jazz outscored
the usually stingy Pistons 44-35.
Detroit rallied in the fourth quarter but couldn't stop George on the decisive
possession.
The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons have the second-best defensive rating in
the league behind Oklahoma City, but they had a difficult time staying with
Markkanen and George as they ran off multiple screens.
The Jazz have yielded an average of 134.4 points in their last five games but
had a block, three steals and some pressure defense down the stretch to clinch
the win.
Up next
Pistons: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday as they continue their nine-day
road trip.
Jazz: At San Antonio on Saturday.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
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