Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler battles for position during game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Salt Lake City, March 24, 2023.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) competes with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) for the rebound in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. 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 were blown out on Friday night at Vivint Arena by the Milwaukee Bucks, who led the game wire-to-wire en route to a 144-116 win.

The Jazz fell to 35-38 on the season.

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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) dunks on the Milwaukee Bucks in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Milwaukee Bucks guard Joe Ingles (7) gets applause after the Jazz recognize him in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk (41)is surrounded on defense by the Milwaukee Bucks in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio (16) tries to shoot over Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (43) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) tie the ball up in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (11) protests call in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy waves to a fan near the end of the game in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) blocks the shot by Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen (12) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz Jarrell Brantley (55) defends Milwaukee Bucks guard Lindell Wigginton (28) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Micah Potter (25) drives on Milwaukee Bucks guard Wesley Matthews (23) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) drives on Milwaukee Bucks guard Lindell Wigginton (28) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Udoka Azubuike (20) has hs shot blocked b Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) drives onMilwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (43) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) tries to shoot over Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Referee James Williams (60) rides during a timeout in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Udoka Azubuike (20) drives on Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) drives on Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen (12) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ochai Agbaji (30) has his shot blocked by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) and Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) defend Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy argues with the ref in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. The Bucks won 144-116. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Here are three keys that contributed to the Jazz’s loss:

  • The Jazz were facing the winningest team in the league, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they were doing it without the services of Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Rudy Gay, who were all in street clothes, nursing various injuries and watching from the bench. With their three leading scorers and the elder statesman of the team sidelined the Jazz had a lot of trouble finding offense.
  • Though the offense was hurting, the defense might have been worse. The Jazz couldn’t contain anything. The Bucks shot 44% on 50 3-point attempts and had 58 points in the paint compared to the Jazz’s 48.
  • The Jazz trailed by as many as 33 and were down 115-85 heading into the fourth quarter. At that point, Jazz head coach Will Hardy waved the white flag, subbing in two-way player Micah Potter as well as Jarrell Brantley, who is with the Jazz on a 10-day contract.
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