Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Isaiah Collier praised Keyonte George's performance in the Jazz's 124-115 win over the Rockets.
- George scored 30 points, while Collier and other young players contributed significantly to the victory.
- Coach Will Hardy expressed confidence in the team's young core, highlighting their improvement and dedication.
SALT LAKE CITY — Isaiah Collier strolled by Keyonte George as he left the Utah Jazz locker room following Saturday's win over the Rockets.
"Key with a 30 piece — should have been 36," Collier said in jest.
As playful as the comment was, it wasn't all that inaccurate. George went an uncharacteristic 5-for-10 from the free-throw line, so good thing just about everything else went right for him, though.
George finished with 30 points, eight assists and five rebounds as the Jazz topped the Houston Rockets 124-115 Saturday at the Delta Center. George went 10-of-17 from the field and has shot 58% from the field in the first two games back from the All-Star break.
"It's time to make the presence felt," he said. "Understanding who I am as a player, no matter what role I'm in; I mean, I'm just trying to let my presence be felt."
That goes for George and the rest of the Jazz youngsters.
A day after Jazz coach Will Hardy said it was time for the rookies to "graduate," they put on one of their best collective performances of the season.
Collier had 12 points and 10 assists; Cody Williams had 9 points and six rebounds, and got a key bucket on a nifty drive the basket in the fourth; and Kyle Filipwoski had 8 points and three rebounds.
Led by the youngsters (and a 23-point and 10-rebound night from Lauri Markkanen, and a 16-rebound game from Walker Kessler) the Jazz used a 23-8 run in the fourth quarter to come back for the win.
"It was real fun, especially after the crowd got involved and everybody (was) eating," George said of the late push. "Cody sitting down, down the stretch, getting big-time stops. … It was definitely fun tonight, especially because that's a tough team. They are (among) the top in the West. We're trying to see where we at. So this is a good win for sure."
It's a win that allowed fans to wonder that maybe — just maybe — there is something to some of these Jazz kids.
George has shown he can thrive off the bench, Collier is leading the NBA in assists in February, Filipwoski has regained some of his early-season form, and Williams has even shown some flashes as of late.
And Saturday's performance allowed Hardy to address some of the — let's call them — haters.
"The petty part of me is my first reaction is told you so for everybody who talked (expletive)," Hardy said. "These guys are young, and they're getting better, and they're working really hard. I have the utmost belief in them. I have the utmost belief in what we're doing."
The win against the Rockets might have made some more believers; it can be seen as a proof of concept for the young Jazz team. Collier ran the point, George hit shots, Williams had some strong defensive possessions, and Kessler dominated the paint. A lot of good stuff.
"It is gratifying because I want that for them," Hardy said. "I want them to have nights where their work really shows. … They come in the next day, they watch the film, they go through practice, they don't make excuses; they face what happened, and they just try to get better."
Something that stands out about this Jazz team is how little the record or the "tanking" season has impacted the locker room. It's a group that has stayed locked in even when it appears to the outside there is nothing to play for this season.
"I'm there every day. You guys are there every day," Hardy said. "You see the way these guys conduct themselves, you see the attitude and the spirit of the team every day."
And that has led to an improving team. Now, do the Jazz have future cornerstones for a championship contender? Who knows, but Saturday sure seemed like a good sign for both the near and distant future.
Still, George would have liked those free throws back.
"I'm really mad," said George, who missed out on setting a new career-high due to the struggles from the line. "But get to the gym tomorrow, shoot 100 free throws and we'll be all right."
