Washington Wizards, under new management, fall to Utah Jazz

NEW DELHI: Lauri Markkanen and John Collins played pivotal roles in the Utah Jazz's 123-108 victory over the Washington Wizards, helping the team end a three-game losing streak. Markkanen contributed 29 points, including six 3-pointers, while Collins posted an impressive double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds. The win improved Utah's record to 1-2 on its current six-game road trip.

The game was significant for the Wizards, who faced their sixth consecutive loss and 12th defeat in the last 13 games. On the same day, the organization made a coaching change, relieving Wes Unseld Jr. of his duties and appointing top assistant Brian Keefe as interim head coach. Unseld, who oversaw a 7-36 start to the season, will transition to a front office role, and the team plans to conduct a coaching search in the offseason.


Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Jazz's offensive prowess. Jordan Poole added 18 points for Washington, while Daniel Gafford and Deni Avdija each contributed 13 points. Tyus Jones had a double-double with 12 points and 14 assists.

In addition to Markkanen and Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk provided valuable contributions off the bench for Utah, scoring 19 points each. The Jazz shot 51.5 percent from the field and connected on 41.9 percent of their 3-point attempts (13 of 31). The team's dominance in the third quarter played a crucial role in securing the 15-point victory.

(Inputs from Reuters)

Stay updated with the latest from IPL Auction 2025, including the final squads of all 10 teams – MI, CSK, RCB, GT, RR, KKR, DC, PBKS, SRH, and LSG. Don't miss the latest updates on our Live Cricket Score page.