Markkanen's 47 points, George's late 3 propel Jazz to 150-147 2OT win over Bulls
The Utah Jazz didn’t just win a game on Sunday night—they rewrote the record books. In a breathtaking 150-147 double-overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, the two teams combined for 297 points, the most in the 2025-26 NBA season. And it all came down to a single shot—Keyonte George, the 22-year-old Jazz point guard, draining a right-arc three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime to seal the deal. The crowd erupted. The Bulls’ hopes collapsed. And the NBA had its most explosive game of the year.
A Game That Refused to End
This wasn’t just overtime. It was double overtime. And it felt like triple. The Chicago Bulls led by as many as 15 points early, then watched as the Jazz clawed back from a nine-point halftime deficit. Lauri Markkanen, the Finnish forward, was the engine of the comeback—13 points in the third quarter alone, 12 more in the fourth. He finished with 47 points, six threes, and seven rebounds, joining an elite Jazz club: only three players in franchise history have posted a game with 45+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ threes. Markkanen now owns three of them.
By the end of regulation, the score was tied at 127. Markkanen tied it with a free throw with 19 seconds left. Then came the chaos: Coby White of the Bulls nailed a tying layup with 0.2 seconds left in the first overtime, sending the game to a second extra period. Braden Bzelis, the 20-year-old Bulls power forward, dunked with 27 seconds left in that first OT to give Chicago momentum. But the Jazz responded. Again and again.
The Role Players Who Made the Difference
Markkanen didn’t do it alone. Keyonte George was the sparkplug, scoring 33 points and hitting four three-pointers—including the dagger. His shot, as captured in YouTube highlights, came from the right wing, a smooth, high-arcing release that left the Bulls’ defense frozen. ESPN reported it as 2 seconds left; YouTube’s footage shows 0.8. Either way, it was too late for Chicago to react.
Isaiah Collier, the 21-year-old Jazz guard, orchestrated the offense with nine assists and 16 points, often threading needles through Chicago’s aggressive double-teams. Jared Butler’s three-pointer with 9:23 left in the fourth sparked an 8-0 run that flipped the game. And then there was Jalen Smith of the Bulls, who tied the game at 124 with a clutch three at 8:41 in regulation, setting off a wild sequence of seven ties and five lead changes in the final minutes.
The Bulls’ 35-year-old center, Nikola Vučević, missed the potential game-tying putback at the buzzer. His hands came up just short. The ball rattled out. The arena went silent, then exploded.
Why This Game Matters
This wasn’t just a win for the Jazz—it was a statement. At 5-8 on the season, they were on the outside of playoff contention. Now, after beating a 6-6 Bulls team in their toughest road game of the year, they’ve shown they can outlast anyone in a war of attrition. The 297 total points shattered the previous season high: the 281-point battle between the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks just two days earlier, and the 280-point game between Indiana and Utah on November 11.
It was the fourth double-overtime game of the season, following Houston at Oklahoma City, OKC at Indiana, and LA Clippers at Dallas. But none had the drama, the scoring, or the star power of this one. The Jazz outscored the Bulls 23-20 in overtime combined. That’s 43 points in just 10 minutes of extra basketball. The pace was relentless. The shooting, unreal. The defense? Nonexistent.
What’s Next?
The Jazz and Bulls are scheduled to meet again on November 17, 2025—just one day after this marathon. That’s rare. Even rarer: both teams will likely be exhausted. The Bulls, now 1-5 on the road, are struggling to close games. The Jazz, on the other hand, are finding their identity in late-game execution. George, only 22, has now delivered two game-winning shots this season. Markkanen is playing like a perennial All-Star. And Collier? He’s becoming the quiet engine of a team that’s no longer just rebuilding.
For fans, this game was a gift. For analysts, it’s a case study in offensive efficiency. For the NBA, it’s proof that when the stars align—and the shooters are hot—basketball can be pure theater.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this game rank in NBA history for scoring?
With 297 total points, this game is the highest-scoring of the 2025-26 NBA season and ranks among the top 20 highest-scoring games since the 3-point line was introduced in 1979. Only five games in NBA history have surpassed 300 points, with the record being 370 points set in a 1983 game between the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets. This game’s pace and shooting volume suggest the league is trending toward even higher scores.
Why did the Bulls struggle in overtime?
Chicago’s bench depth was thin, and their key players—Coby White and Nikola Vučević—were visibly fatigued by the second overtime. White played 48 minutes, while Vučević logged 45. The Jazz, meanwhile, rotated more players effectively, with Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier sharing playmaking duties. Chicago also missed three crucial free throws in the final 90 seconds of overtime, a trend that’s plagued them in close games this season.
What makes Lauri Markkanen’s 47-point game special?
Markkanen’s 47-point, 7-rebound, 6-three-pointer performance is only the third such game in Utah Jazz history. He joins Donovan Mitchell (two such games) and Bojan Bogdanović (one). He’s also the first Jazz player since Mitchell in 2023 to score 45+ points with six or more threes. His efficiency—17-of-28 from the field and 6-of-10 from deep—was elite under pressure, making him the focal point of one of the most explosive individual performances of the season.
How did Keyonte George’s game-winning shot compare to his previous clutch moments?
George’s buzzer-beater was his second game-winning shot this season, following a 27-foot step-back three against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 5. This time, the stakes were higher: double overtime, a record-setting game, and a nationally televised matchup. His calm under pressure—despite being a rookie in his second NBA season—has drawn comparisons to Jrue Holiday’s clutch play in 2021. The Jazz now have three game-winning shots in the final 5 seconds this season, tied for the most in the league.
Is this a turning point for the Utah Jazz’s season?
Absolutely. Before this win, the Jazz were 0-5 in games decided by 5 points or fewer. Now, they’ve won two in a row in OT and have shown they can win close ones with composure. Their offensive rating has jumped to 124.8 since Markkanen returned from injury, and George’s emergence as a closer gives them a new dimension. If they can maintain this level of execution, they’re no longer just a team with potential—they’re a playoff dark horse.
What’s the significance of the November 17 rematch?
The back-to-back games are extremely rare in the NBA, usually only scheduled due to weather or venue conflicts. This one was planned, likely to capitalize on the buzz from Sunday’s thriller. Both teams will be physically drained, but mentally sharper. The Jazz will be confident; the Bulls, desperate. Whoever wins Tuesday will likely gain the psychological edge in their season series—and possibly in the Western Conference standings, where every win counts.
