Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy, right, frowns while talking with Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, center, and CEO Danny Ainge, left, during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Sarah Todd
By Sarah Todd
Sarah Todd covers the NBA and Utah Jazz for the Deseret News.

The 55-point loss the Utah Jazz suffered at the hands of the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night was the worst loss for the Jazz since the team moved to Utah.

The New Orleans Jazz only had one game with a worse point margin, a 56-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1979.

The Jazz franchise name now shows up twice on wrong side of the list of the 25 biggest blowouts in NBA history.

There’s more. The 41 second-chance points scored by the Hornets are the most scored in a single game by a team since at least the 1996-97 season (advanced box score data on NBA.com is only available starting with that season).

Cody Williams’ minus-60 performance set a new record for the worst single-game plus-minus (also in the last 30 years of available tracking data).

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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) reacts after a made 3-pointer by a teammate during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) drives to the basket against Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) reacts after turning over the ball after not being able to control a pass during the first half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Former Jazz and current Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) acknowledges the crowd after checking into the game for the first time since being traded during the offseason during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) moves the ball upcourt during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) celebrates making a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) makes a heart with his hands during his pregame routine before an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans cheer as they see themselves on the Jumbotron behind the Utah Mammoth mascot Tusky during the first half of an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) looks on during warm ups before an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) stretches before an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) moves the ball up court during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) celebrates making a three pointer during the second half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) and forward Kyle Filipowski (22) react after Filipowski was called for a foul on Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (2) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) drives to the basket for a layup against Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) hits his head as he celebrates making a three pointer during the second half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Sexton scored 15 points in his return to the Delta Center after being traded by the Jazz during the off-season. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) makes a pass during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) drives to the basket against Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) grimaces as he hits the floor after turning the ball over during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy, right, frowns while talking with Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith, center, and CEO Danny Ainge, left, during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) talks with head coach Will Hardy during a timeout during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Fans try to distract Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) as he attempts free throws during the second half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) looks on after being called for a foul during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy and forward Kevin Love (42) laugh after speaking during a timeout during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) drives to the basket for a lay up past Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Walter Clayton Jr. (13) looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. The 150-95 loss is the biggest loss as a franchise since the Jazz moved to Utah. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) drives to the basket past Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the second half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) and Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) embrace after an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) embraces his mother Gia after an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Sexton scored 15 points in his return to the Delta Center after being traded by the Jazz during the off-season. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) drives to the basket past Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) for a lay up during the first half of an NBA game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy looks on during the national anthem before an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
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Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) celebrates after making a three pointer during the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

“Well, if you want a picture of what everything going wrong looks like, that’s what it looks like,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said following the loss.

On one hand, the Jazz were going to be facing an uphill battle with Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkić and Ace Bailey all sidelined, but there have been days when the shorthanded Jazz have shown much more gusto than they did on Saturday.

The loss comes on the eve of the Jazz leaving for their second road trip of January, in which they’ll face the Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers, the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks twice and Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs.

The Jazz are unlikely to make it through the entirety of the trip without some players being out for a game here and there, and if the young Jazz roster can take anything from what happened on Saturday night, it’s that they should appreciate the moments they have when their best players are available, and also realize that they have so much more to learn.

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“They have a long way to go, and it keeps everybody hungry,” Hardy said of his young players. “I’m sure they’ll have a different view of our veteran players and what they bring to the game every night and what it does for their lives when they play.

“Everybody’s execution and impact has to be heightened when people are out. ...there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

The embarrassment of the way the Jazz lost comes with the small silver lining of being a loss against a team that is also at the bottom of the NBA standings.

The Jazz fell to 13-25 on the season, which gives them the fifth-worst win percentage in the league, just below Charlotte and Dallas at sixth and seventh.

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