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Rookie Ace Bailey's big performance helps lift Jazz to stunning win over Timberwolves
Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey. Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Rookie Ace Bailey's big performance helps lift Jazz to stunning win over Timberwolves

Wins have been few and far between for the Utah Jazz this season, but they picked up one on Tuesday night thanks to a slamming performance from their first-round rookie. 

In leading the Jazz to an upset 127-122 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ace Bailey scored 20 points, one pint shy of matching his career-high, while shooting 47.1% from the field and hitting three triples in 33 minutes. He also added four rebounds and an assist. 

The highlight from the night also came off the hand of Bailey, as he completed a monster dunk to get Utah back in game in the fourth quarter. 

Ace Bailey's dunk brought down the house in Utah 

With 10:30 on the clock and the Jazz down by nine 99-90, Bailey hammered the ball home after a pass from Isaiah Collier. Bailey's dunk brought life to the crowd and ignited a fire under his team that would quickly flip the scoreboard, eventually leading to the Jazz's win.

Bailey's play and the Jazz's win snapped a four-game losing skid and only moved their team record to 15-29. 

Ace Bailey approached a career-best performance  

The 19-year-old rookie who Utah selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is now averaging 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 36 games and 25 starts. His career-high in points is 21, a mark he reached twice. 

He did it the first time in a Nov. 13 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and then again on Nov. 24 in a loss at Golden State, making Tuesday one of his best outings in a win to this point. 

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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