The Utah Jazz were officially eliminated from playoff contention following a 147-111 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, the NBA confirmed.
At 20-49, Utah can’t catch 10th-place Golden State (33-36), which also owns the tie-breaker. The Jazz are the fifth team eliminated, joining Indiana, Sacramento, Washington and Brooklyn.
The game was one-sided despite Minnesota missing Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Naz Reid (right shoulder contusion). Ayo Dosunmu, acquired at the trade deadline, led the Timberwolves with 23 points.
It caps a difficult season for Utah, which hasn’t been above .500 since a 2-1 start. Multiple losing streaks, including a 10-of-11 slide beginning in mid-January, dropped them out of play-in range.
Injuries didn’t help. Lauri Markkanen has played just 42 games and only once since February 11 due to a right hip impingement, while Walker Kessler appeared in only five games after tearing his left shoulder labrum early in the season.
Utah entered the year expected to finish near the bottom and is currently fifth-worst, still within reach of better lottery odds.
The team was fined $500K last month for “conduct detrimental to the league” after sitting Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. late in games on February 7 and 9.
The trade for Jackson signaled a push toward competing soon. He’s expected back next season, along with Kessler, who is likely to be re-signed.
Jazz Eliminated From Postseason Contention https://t.co/6Wz48hhgMD pic.twitter.com/XC55xY9izP
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 19, 2026
