Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (5) is fouled by Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris (22) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.
Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (5) is fouled by Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris (22) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Sarah Todd
By Sarah Todd
Sarah Todd covers the NBA and Utah Jazz for the Deseret News.

The Utah Jazz beat the Washington Wizards 120-112 on Thursday night at Vivint Arena. The Jazz will be off until the day after Christmas and head into their small break with a two-game win streak and having improved to 19-16 on the season.

Here are three keys that contributed to the Jazz’s victory.

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Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (5) celebrates his basket in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) has the ball stolen by Washington Wizards forward Taj Gibson (67) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6) is defended by Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (5) is fouled by Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris (22) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) drives on Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy argues with referee Sean Wright (4) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) hits a 3-pointer in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) fights for a rebound with Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) blocks a shot by Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6) drives on Washington Wizards forward Will Barton (5) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) grabs a rebound in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) looks to pass in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ochai Agbaji (30) and Washington Wizards guard Jordan Goodwin (7) compete for the ball in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy talks with Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (5) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) is surrounded by the Washington Wizards defense in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) shoots a three-pointer over Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) grabs a rebound in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (5) drives on Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (8) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots a 3-pointer in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy talks with Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) hits a 3-pointer in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) hits a 3-pointer in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6) celebrates a Jazz basket during a time-out in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) is called for a foul in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) drives on Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay (22) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) grabs a rebound over Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. The Jazz won 120-112. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
  • The Jazz had kept the game pretty tight throughout the night, but they absolutely put the Wizards away in the fourth quarter.

After a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Collin Sexton at the end of the third quarter, which gave Utah a 3-point lead, the Jazz went on a scorching 27-14 run before the Wizards waved the white flag and emptied their bench.

  • In Sexton’s first game back after missing seven straight with a hamstring strain, he scored 18 points in just 17 minutes off the bench, going 6 of 7 overall, 2 of 2 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
  • Malik Beasley dominated the game on both sides of the court, scoring a team-high 25 points in 25 minutes off the bench. He also finished the night with four of the Jazz’s five steals.
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