Jazz lose for 7th time in last 8 games, 115-107

ORLANDO (ABC4 Sports) – The Utah Jazz season is fading away, but they’re not going down without a fight.

Jalen Suggs hit three 3-pointers in the final three minutes and finished with 15 points as the Orlando Magic beat the Utah Jazz 115-107 on Thursday night. The Jazz (27-33) have now lost seven of its last eight games.

“We put ourselves in a position to win the game,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy. “That’s where we want to be with two minutes left — one-point down. I felt like down the stretch, there were a couple of plays that just didn’t go our way. Jalen Suggs made some 3s late. That can happen in an NBA game.”

Paolo Banchero, back in the lineup after missing two games due to the flu, had 29 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who won for the 10th time in 13 games. The Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, each added 14 points. Suggs shot 5 for 8 from the field and 4 for 7 from 3-point distance before fouling out in the final seconds.

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John Collins, Keyonte George and Collin Sexton each scored 19 points and Lauri Markkanen added 18 for the slumping Jazz, who lost their second straight on the road trip.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Jazz, which pleased Hardy.

“It was a balanced effort by the first group,” Hardy said. “That’s that’s who we have to be. We are not a team that’s built around one person, and we don’t have one guy that we give the ball to and tell everybody else to get out of the way. So seeing a balanced effort like that to me just means the team is doing a good job of communicating during the game.”

The Magic went more than 13 minutes without a 3-point field goal before Suggs made one with 2:49 remaining in the game. He made all three of his long shots in a 90-second span, extending Orlando’s lead from 101-100 lead to 110-103.

Utah stayed in contention with 16-for-37 shooting from long distance. But, playing without Walker Kessler, the NBA’s No. 3 shot blocker, the Jazz had just one block and were outrebounded 45-37. Walker is out with a right foot sprain.

After Orlando built an early double-digit lead in the first half, Jordan Clarkson and Markkanen hit 3-pointers during an 11-0 run as Utah closed within 53-52 by the break.

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A 3-pointer by Sexton pulled the Jazz ahead midway through the third quarter, and when Markkanen hit another 3-pointer a minute later, Utah was 13 for 26 from long range.

Utah was never able to get its short-lived lead beyond four points.

The Jazz wrap up its three-game road trip Saturday in Miami.

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