SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz rookie phenom Ace Bailey left Monday’s home opener with what the team is calling bilateral knee soreness.
The first-year wing left the team with 3:06 left in the second quarter and headed immediately for the locker room.
The team ruled Bailey out for the remainder of the game at halftime.
Ace Bailey has bilateral knee soreness and will not return tonight. #TakeNote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 14, 2025
Ace Bailey Leaves Jazz Game Due To Knee Soreness
Bailey had gotten off to a slow start in his first preseason game in front of the Utah crowd, scoring just three points on 1-5 shooting in just under 11 minutes.
The Rutgers product had been averaging 22.5 points per game through his first two games of the preseason.
Bailey’s lone basket against the Dallas Mavericks came on a catch-and-shoot three-pointer assisted by Lauri Markkanen.
Ace Bailey catch-and-shoot triple 🎯
Watch Mavs vs. Jazz on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/HFn2qsDuQ6
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2025
Markkanen was also absent from the team’s lineup to open the second half, but the team didn’t announce an injury for the All-Star forward.
The 28-year-old was making his preseason debut after missing the Jazz’s first two games due to a wrist injury suffered at EuroBasket.
Markkanen had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists in his return.
The Jazz trailed Dallas 61-53 at the half.
Walt Clayton Jr. and Svi Mykhailiuk replaced Bailey and Markkanen to open the third quarter.
The Jazz will conclude the preseason on Thursday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone . Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.