Keyonte George scored 31 points, including a game-winning floater with 2.1 seconds remaining, to lift the Utah Jazz (11-19) past the Detroit Pistons (24-7) 131-129 Friday night at the Delta Center.
Lauri Markkanen added 30 points, while Brice Sensabaugh contributed a season-high 20 points off the bench, filling in for Ace Bailey, who missed the second half with a hip injury.
Cade Cunningham recorded 29 points and 17 assists for Detroit, but missed a contested buzzer-beater as the Pistons fell short in a high-scoring matchup.
Utah trailed by 15 midway through the first quarter but gradually chipped away, eventually taking a 104-89 lead late in the third after a strong 44-35 run sparked by Kevin Love’s 11 points in the period.
The Pistons rallied in the fourth, with Cunningham tying the game at 129 on free throws after a backcourt steal by George had given Utah a 129-125 lead with 1:14 remaining.
Despite Detroit shooting 52.2% from the field and making 18-of-37 from three-point range, the Jazz’s defensive pressure, including a block and three steals down the stretch, secured the victory.
Markkanen and George exploited multiple screens to get open shots against Detroit’s second-ranked defense, highlighting the Jazz’s offensive execution in crunch time.
Utah outscored Detroit 44-35 in the third quarter, and George’s late-game poise proved decisive in snapping the Jazz’s four-game losing streak.
The Jazz finished 44-of-90 from the field, including 18-of-38 from three, while Detroit shot 48-of-92 overall and converted 15-of-23 free throws. Utah also held a 42-41 edge on the boards and shared the ball effectively with 12 assists from George, Markkanen, and Kevin Love.
Detroit, leading the Eastern Conference, will continue their nine-day road trip with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, while Utah heads to San Antonio on Saturday.
