Utah Jazz vs Milwaukee Bucks: Recap and final score

With most of their rotation players out, the Utah Jazz likely expected to drop one to a Bucks team that played the roster meant to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee. Utah ended up beating the Bucks 128-96. Probably not the best thing for the Bucks to prove to Giannis that he can win there.

The best player on the floor was Ace Bailey, who scored a career high 33 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bailey is turning into a real weapon for the Jazz, who are doing everything they can to add one more top-8 pick in the upcoming draft. Bailey continues to get better and better every night showing more and more to his game. Not only is Bailey’s shooting getting more and more efficient, but he’s also showing great defensive chops with 3 steals and 1 block in this game. Not only that, his 4 assists are a sign of a burgeoning ability to playmake for others. Utah has a chance to win the lottery again after this season, but they appear to have a young star already from last year.

Ace Bailey wasn’t the only player to shine, Cody Williams is also improving night after night. He’s improving in all aspects of his game, especially with his scoring. Williams had 23 points in the first half and looked completely comfortable all night, scoring on the hapless Bucks. Williams was a fantastic 10/15 from the field and 1/2 from three, but also dished out 5 assists. Night after night, it’s getting clearer and clearer that Williams is becoming a core part of the future and a player that Utah was right to draft at #10.

Kyle Filipowski continues to show he can be a positive contributor, although he’s got to find a way to improve on defense. It may not be something he can ever do, but it’s the one thing that is going to keep him from being a consistent rotation player.

Finally, there has to be a huge shoutout to the Utah Jazz front office for finding some nice players from the G-League. Blake Hinson, who is on a two-way contract, has been a lights-out shooter for the Jazz, and tonight was no different. Hinson shot a blistering 4/7 from three, and it looks like something he should be able to replicate in the years to come. Andersson Garcia has had a nice defensive presence for the Jazz since joining. Tonight, he played all 48 minutes and played with high energy all game. I’m not sure that Garcia will be on the Jazz next season, but he’s proven he’s a player worth looking at and bringing into their development system. He could be a potential fit down the road.

It’s not a good night for the Jazz in terms of tanking for the lottery, it likely puts the 4-spot out of reach, but it was a night where you got to see the future of the Jazz in Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, and that future is looking bright.