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The Utah Jazz were on the brink of securing a thrilling victory against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, holding a four-point lead with just 4.7 seconds left in regulation. But Grayson Allen had other plans. With the game on the line, Allen hit two clutch three-pointers in the final moments, sending the game into overtime.
Allen’s first shot with 2.2 seconds left brought Phoenix within one point. After the Suns quickly fouled, Lauri Markkanen made both free throws to push the Jazz's lead back to three. However, Allen responded by hitting a second buzzer-beater as the clock ran out, forcing an extra period.
Play design ✅
Inbounds pass ✅
Clutch shot ✅WHAT A PLAY. 👏 https://t.co/7I93JpNcYx pic.twitter.com/5zO5ZsHWC3
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2025
In overtime, the Suns capitalized on the momentum, outscoring the Jazz 12-5. Phoenix sprinted to a hard-fought win, powered by Devin Booker's outstanding 47-point performance. Booker was also honored before the game at Footprint Center for becoming the Suns’ all-time leading scorer.
GRAYSON ALLEN SENDS IT TO OVERTIME AT THE BUZZER ‼️🚨 pic.twitter.com/z9IvsrGEO6
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2025
While the Suns celebrated, the Jazz, especially their young rookies, had a night of highs and lows, learning both valuable lessons and facing tough criticism.
Despite the tough loss, the Jazz rookies showed impressive development. Markkanen, John Collins, and Walker Kessler combined for a solid 60 points, and the Jazz dominated the boards with 25 offensive rebounds, translating into 27 second-chance points. Kessler had a standout performance, finishing with an impressive 19 points and 22 rebounds.
Rookie Isaiah Collier also shined in his first-half performance, dishing out 10 assists. By the end of the game, he had tallied 15 points, 13 assists, and four rebounds.
DBOOK GOES OFF IN THE VALLEY 🏜️
🔥 47 PTS (season high)
🔥 11 AST
🔥 @Suns OT W pic.twitter.com/jEJrDCAsH9— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2025
“I thought Isaiah was terrific,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy praised. “He had 13 assists, and in my mind he probably (should have) had 20. His pace and his decision-making has been fantastic. His speed in transition and the force he puts on the paint, he’s getting better and better.”
Fellow rookie Kyle Filipowski, who played just 15 minutes, also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Hardy acknowledged Filipowski’s growth, noting that he's adjusting from being a focal point in offense at the college and high school levels to now focusing on other aspects of the game, such as defense and rebounding.
In just 15 minutes, Filipowski grabbed eight offensive rebounds, nearly matching Kessler's total despite playing far fewer minutes.
“He doesn’t get to play 36 minutes and so you don’t get the rhythm of the game quite the same,” Hardy said. “But he’s bought into doing little things — his effort, his rebounding, his screening...I’ve been really proud of how he’s taken that messaging, and he’s dealing with it as well as any young player can.”
While the Jazz rookies shined in various areas, their defensive play was another story. Utah’s defense faltered during the final moments of regulation, with missed switches allowing Allen to get open for two game-changing threes.
“It has to do with the fact that we did not direct Devin Booker ever in isolation,” Hardy pointed out. “He went away from the help 75% of the time tonight, and then we got caught in rotations because of it.”
The blame for the breakdown in isolation defense fell largely on Keyonte George, Collier, and Svi Mykhailiuk, but Hardy noted that defensive mistakes often have ripple effects that require everyone to communicate and compensate.
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Booker made the Jazz pay for their mistakes, scoring with ease and hitting difficult shots, including fadeaways and layups. Hardy emphasized that the Jazz need to improve their ability to direct the ball and shut down key players like Booker.
“Our isolation defense and the ability to direct the ball is not very good right now,” Hardy acknowledged. “We have a lot of players who have to improve in that area.”
The Jazz will have another chance to refine their defense quickly, as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers in a back-to-back matchup the following night.
Despite the tough loss, the Jazz showed promise with their young talent, and the lessons learned on Friday night will hopefully translate into growth moving forward.
Abbie Stockard, 22, who recently celebrated her victory as Miss America on January 5, marked the special occasion with her NBA star boyfriend, Walker Kessler, 23. The couple’s relationship would have faced restrictions in previous years, but changes to the Miss America rules have made their relationship easier to navigate.
Abbie Stockard (@abbiestockard Instagram)
Abbie Stockard, crowned Miss America 2024, celebrates her victory with NBA star Walker Kessler. This marks a significant shift in Miss America’s once-strict relationship rules.
In a 2023 A&E docuseries Secrets of Miss America, former Miss America titleholders shared that the strict policies under former CEO Sam Haskell prevented contestants from having boyfriends. As 2016 titleholder Betty Maxwell explained, “They’re very, very, very anti-boyfriend because they want you to look like you’re America’s sweetheart.” She pointed out the contradiction between the feminist ideals promoted by the competition and the reality that many young women are in relationships.
In fact, the rules were so strict that contestants’ fathers weren’t even allowed to enter their hotel rooms. Miss America 2018, Savvy Shields Wolfe, recalled how “boyfriends were not allowed to exist when you're Miss America” under Haskell’s leadership.
Abbie Stockard (@abbiestockard Instagram)
However, recent changes under CEO Robin Fleming have made the Miss America competition more lenient, especially regarding contestants’ relationships. Stockard is grateful for the shift, saying, “I'm so glad that it doesn't really matter now because it does not affect your job as Miss America at all.”
Stockard also shared that the new policies have made a big difference in her relationship with Kessler, a player for the Utah Jazz. “Having the Miss America team support Walker and our relationship has just made it even more special,” she said.
Stockard acknowledged that previous contestants who were in serious relationships chose not to compete due to the strict rules. “I’ve heard stories of girls who just didn’t want to compete because they were in a serious relationship,” Stockard said. “But now it’s not like that. They don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
While Miss America still prohibits married women and mothers from competing, Stockard believes the new approach may attract more participants. The 22-year-old nursing student credits Kessler as a significant source of support throughout her journey, noting how he’s actively engaged in promoting the Miss America organization.
Abbie Stockard with boyfriend Walker Kessler (@kidkessler Instagram)
She shared, “I watched one of his media interviews with the Utah Jazz yesterday, and they didn’t ask him one basketball question… It was all about Miss America. He was literally using my talking points.”
Kessler congratulated Stockard on Instagram, writing, “I am so proud of you and everything you stand for. Your hard work and trust in the Lord has awarded you with this incredible opportunity! Use your light to shine on others around you!”
Though the timeline of their relationship remains unclear, the couple officially announced they were dating in January 2024, with Kessler showing immense pride and support for Stockard’s Miss America victory.
Sam Haskell (Youtube)
