It was a night that Utah Jazz fans and NBA historians alike won’t soon forget. On January 14, 2026, Brice Sensabaugh, a third-year forward out of Ohio State, erupted for a career-high 43 points off the bench, electrifying the United Center with a performance for the ages—even as the Jazz ultimately fell 128-126 to the Chicago Bulls. While the scoreboard favored the home team, Sensabaugh’s outburst carved his name into the league’s record books and set the stage for a new chapter in his young career.
With Utah’s leading scorer Lauri Markkanen sidelined due to illness, head coach Will Hardy was forced to lean on a youthful lineup. The starting five—Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Cody Williams, Ace Bailey, and Kyle Filipowski—featured only one veteran, Kyle Anderson, among a rotation otherwise composed of players with three years of experience or less. But it was Sensabaugh, coming off the bench, who stole the spotlight and nearly stole the game.
From the moment he checked in, Sensabaugh was on fire. He scored 21 points in just 7 minutes and 14 seconds during the first quarter, making 8 of 9 shots—including all three of his three-point attempts. According to ESPN, that’s the most points by an NBA reserve in any opening period since the league began tracking the stat in the 1996-97 season. Before Sensabaugh’s explosion, the record belonged to Indiana’s Lance Stephenson, who had 20 first-quarter points off the bench in January 2022.
“Shots were just going in tonight,” Sensabaugh said after the game, clearly relishing the moment. “So it was, it was a lot of fun.”
Sensabaugh’s first-half total reached 28 points—just two shy of the Jazz franchise record for points in a half by either a starter or reserve. Rodney Hood still holds that mark with 30 points in a half against the Lakers back in March 2016, while Karl Malone’s 37 points in a second half against Golden State in 1998 remain the team’s all-time best for any half.
But the records didn’t stop there. Sensabaugh’s 43 points were the second-most ever scored by a Jazz player coming off the bench, trailing only Jordan Clarkson’s 45-point masterpiece against Sacramento in 2022. The 22-year-old also set a new franchise record for points scored by a second-unit Jazz player on the road. Not bad for a player whose role and future with the team have been the subject of speculation.
“It’s a blessing,” Sensabaugh told ABC4 Sports. “I have no words for it, to be honest. I’m incredibly grateful. Obviously, to do something like I did today was special. It means a lot to me to be in the record books and stamp my name.”
He finished the night with a stat line that sparkled: 15-of-22 shooting (68.2%), 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. He also contributed five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 34 minutes—starter’s minutes for a player who began the game on the bench. For context, his previous career high had been 34 points, set just ten days earlier against Miami.
Keyonte George, another of the Jazz’s promising young talents, added 25 points—including 15 in a furious fourth-quarter rally. George nearly played the hero, missing a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. Kyle Filipowski chipped in 19 points, and the Jazz, who trailed by 12 with just over five minutes remaining, clawed their way back to tie the game at 126 on a Sensabaugh layup with 28.5 seconds left.
“It was just good to see [Brice] play well,” George said, reflecting on his teammate’s performance. “Whenever he’s playing with a smile on his face, good things happen.”
The Bulls, though, had an answer. Nikola Vucevic, Chicago’s steady veteran center, scored 35 points and delivered the game-winning layup with just four seconds remaining. The Bulls, missing starter Josh Giddey due to a strained left hamstring, saw five reserves finish in double figures, with Isaac Okoro as the only other starter in double digits (12 points).
The game itself was a back-and-forth thriller, featuring an astonishing 26 ties and 17 lead changes. It was another nail-biter between these two teams, who previously battled through a 150-147 double-overtime Jazz win earlier in the season. This time, the Bulls had the final say.
Despite the loss, Jazz head coach Will Hardy was upbeat about his team’s effort and resilience. “More than anything, I leave this game really encouraged with our young players and their fight, their competitiveness, how connected they are,” Hardy said. “I do believe we’re playing a lot of good basketball.”
Sensabaugh’s breakout came at a pivotal time in his career. After a sophomore season that hinted at promise, his third year had so far been marked by inconsistency. Still, he’s shown a knack for big games—last season, he averaged 11.5 points while shooting 44 percent from three over the final 41 games. Through 39 games this season (eight starts), Sensabaugh is averaging a career-high 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, with shooting splits of 44.4 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from deep. In January alone, he’s averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
His first-quarter explosion also placed him in rare company. Sensabaugh became just the second-youngest player in Jazz history to score 40 or more points in a game, trailing only Donovan Mitchell. And for Ohio State fans, his 43-point effort marked the most by a former Buckeye in the NBA since Michael Redd’s 52-point outburst for Milwaukee in 2007.
Drafted 28th overall by the Jazz in 2023 after earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors, Sensabaugh’s NBA journey is still unfolding. The Jazz will have the opportunity to sign him to a contract extension this summer. Performances like this one make a compelling case, but as Sensabaugh himself acknowledged, consistency will be key. “To do something like I did today was special,” he said. “It means a lot to be in the record books and stamp my name, but you know, it’s important that I continue to carry it on.”
With the loss, the Jazz fell to a Chicago team that continues to find ways to win close games. The Bulls will next face the Brooklyn Nets in a home-and-home series, while the Jazz travel to Dallas on Thursday to begin a two-game set against the Mavericks. The young Utah squad will look to build on the positives from a night that, despite the defeat, showcased the promise of their next generation.
For Brice Sensabaugh, the challenge now is to turn flashes of brilliance into a steady flame. If Wednesday night is any indication, the Jazz and their fans may be witnessing the emergence of a star.
