The Utah Jazz, led by Keyonte George's 32 points and Lauri Markkanen's 28, bounced back from a 55-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets with a 123-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12, 2026. George's 16 points in the third quarter were crucial, as the Jazz rallied from a 10-point deficit and regained control. He also went 12-for-12 at the free-throw line and recorded nine assists. This win marked the Jazz's second in their last eight games, following a 150-95 loss to the Hornets, the second-largest scoring margin in franchise history. Markkanen, ranked 10th in the league in scoring at 27.8 points per game, also contributed 12 rebounds. Jusuf Nurkic, returning from a toe injury, added 11 points and 17 rebounds. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 points, and Donovan Mitchell scored 21. The Cavaliers have dropped two of their last three games. The game saw a dramatic shift in momentum, with Cleveland trailing by 17 points in the first quarter and 46-36 at halftime before a 26-8 run in the second quarter. The Cavaliers' largest lead was 10 points early in the third quarter, but the Jazz responded with a 21-8 run. Utah took control in the fourth quarter, leading 90-89 before a 16-6 run over three minutes, with Svi Mykhailiuk's 3-pointers kickstarting the surge. Both teams performed well at the free-throw line, with Cleveland making all 13 of its attempts and Utah going 25-for-28. The Jazz's next game is at Chicago on Wednesday, while the Cavaliers travel to Philadelphia.
