Before the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic tipped off on Saturday, Jazz head coach Will Hardy foreshadowed the Magic play that would be his team’s demise.
“They’ve got some terrific athletes, guys who can play downhill,” he said. “The biggest fear is that we can’t control the ball around the free throw line, that we can’t keep them from breaking the free throw line and getting into the paint...Desmond Bane is somebody that you fear from the 3-point line, but as a team, the Magic are way more based on the interior.”
With 4.1 seconds left in an overtime thriller that had the Delta Center crowd on its feet, Keyonte George pump-faked Anthony Black into the air, drew a foul and hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 126. He then hit the ensuing foul shot and gave the Jazz a one-point lead.
But after a timeout, Bane blew past Svi Mykhailiuk with the ball in his hands, got into the paint and scooped in the game-winning shot with 0.9 seconds left.
Orlando was able to put a tally mark in the win column, but the Jazz did a lot of things they should be proud of.
They rallied back from a 19-point deficit, they shared the ball incredibly well, they kept their turnovers low and made a ton of defensive plays that were impressive and slowly gained some control in the paint.
The only problem was that the majority of the smart plays came in the second half.
Of course, for a young team, a solid second-half performance when their star player (Lauri Markkanen) is watching in street clothes is part of the learning process. Extending the time the team is able to properly execute is the hope when it comes to continued development.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) looks down the court during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) runs toward the basket during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) misses a shot at the basket during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) reacts to blocking Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) from scoring during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley coaches during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) blocks Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) from scoring during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Utah Jazz Bear hugs a fan dressed as an elf during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) looks out at the court during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Haisley Harris, 3, watches the Utah Jazz starting lineup introductions before an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Utah Jazz dancers perform during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) smiles during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) takes a shot at the basket during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) prepares to take a free-throw during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Utah Jazz dancers perform during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) misses a shot during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) falls during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) jumps up to make a shot during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) walks out during starting lineup introductions before an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) falls during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) prepares to take a free-throw during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy yells from the bench during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) dunks the ball during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) watches from the bench during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz fans watch as the Orlando Magic take free-throw shots during overtime of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz fans cheer as the game goes into overtime against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Teammates run to Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) after he made a three-point shot during overtime of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) makes a three-point shot during overtime of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) reacts during overtime against the Orlando Magic during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
A referee motions to reset the clock during overtime of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Orlando Magic celebrate after scoring in overtime against the Utah Jazz during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) makes the game-winning shot in overtime against the Utah Jazz during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) talks to Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) passes the ball during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) dribbles to the basket during an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) runs the ball toward the basket against the Orlando Magic during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) prepares to shoot a free throw during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) runs the ball down the court against the Orlando Magic during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) knocks the ball from Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier’s (8) possession during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) falls on the court during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
The Orlando Magic celebrate after they score against the Utah Jazz during an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) dunks the ball during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) prepares to shoot a free throw during an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.| Tess Crowley, Deseret News
“I’m so proud of the team. That was a hell of a fight in the second half,” Hardy said. “We’re playing lineups that we haven’t planned for. The guys are finding ways to help each other. Their competitiveness, their togetherness, is outstanding.
“The biggest thing for us to learn from this game is that they score 34 paint points in the first half and 22 in the second half. That was a big priority for us coming into the game, and I think we made, as a team, a great adjustment with our mindset in the second half. We just need to continue to to fight for that focus to start the game.”
George finished the night with 27 points and nine assists in the loss, while Bane paced the Magic with 32 points.
The Jazz are now 10-17 on the season and will travel to Denver to face the Nuggets on Monday before returning to the Delta Center for their final pre-Christmas game on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.