The Utah Jazz delivered a surprising and emphatic response to their critics on January 12, 2026, stunning the Cleveland Cavaliers 123-112 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Entering the night as heavy underdogs and reeling from a humiliating 55-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets just two days prior, the Jazz flipped the script in dramatic fashion, outplaying the Cavaliers in nearly every facet of the game as both teams reached the midpoint of the NBA season.
Coming into the contest, the odds were stacked against Utah. The Jazz held a disappointing 13-25 record, languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference, and had dropped six of their previous seven games. Their defense, ranked dead last in the NBA, had just allowed nine different Hornets players to score in double digits in a 150-95 blowout. Injuries added to the misery, with key frontcourt contributors Walker Kessler (shoulder) and Georges Niang (foot) unavailable for the matchup in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers, by contrast, appeared to be building momentum. With a 22-18 record and sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference, Cleveland had won five of its last seven, including a double-digit victory over the playoff-bound Minnesota Timberwolves. Led by the electric Donovan Mitchell—averaging a career-best 29.8 points per game and on track for his seventh consecutive All-Star nod—Cleveland’s high-octane offense ranked among the league’s best, particularly from beyond the arc.
But as tipoff approached, the Jazz refused to accept the role of sacrificial lamb. Utah’s starting lineup featured Keyonte George at point guard, Cody Williams and Lauri Markkanen at the forward spots, Svi Mykhailiuk on the wing, and Jusuf Nurkic anchoring the middle. Cleveland countered with its own star-studded five: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Both teams were missing rotation pieces—Max Strus and Dean Wade for Cleveland, and the aforementioned Kessler and Niang for Utah—but the stage was set for a showdown that would defy expectations.
The Jazz came out firing, racing to a 21-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Cleveland’s offense sputtered out of the gate, hitting just one of its first nine shots and missing all four of its opening three-point attempts. Utah’s early dominance on the boards was eye-popping, as they built a 14-3 rebounding advantage before the first timeout. By the end of the quarter, the Jazz led 34-22, powered by Lauri Markkanen’s six points and a barrage of threes from multiple contributors.
Still, the Cavaliers showed signs of life in the second quarter. Donovan Mitchell and Nae’Qwan Tomlin sparked a rally, combining for four quick buckets to help Cleveland trim the deficit to single digits. A 26-8 run to close the half, capped by a buzzer-beating three from Garland, gave the Cavs a 62-54 lead at the break. Garland had 12 points, six assists, and three steals at halftime, while Mitchell led Cleveland with 14 points. Markkanen paced the Jazz with 16 points and seven boards through two quarters.
But whatever adjustments Utah made in the locker room paid immediate dividends. The Jazz stormed out of halftime with a 16-8 run, quickly erasing Cleveland’s lead. Markkanen, determined to remind the Cavaliers of what they gave up in the blockbuster 2022 trade that brought Mitchell to Ohio, drilled back-to-back threes and finished with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds. Keyonte George added a career-best 32 points, repeatedly slicing through Cleveland’s defense and hitting timely jumpers when the Jazz needed them most.
Utah’s dominance on the glass was a recurring theme all night. Jusuf Nurkic corralled a game-high 17 rebounds and chipped in 11 points, helping the Jazz build a staggering 50-30 rebounding edge. Former Cavaliers icon Kevin Love, now coming off Utah’s bench, chipped in 11 points and provided a steady veteran presence during key stretches. Brice Sensabaugh continued his strong January with another double-digit scoring night, adding valuable bench production for the visitors.
As the fourth quarter ticked away, the Cavaliers found themselves in an unfamiliar position—playing catch-up on their home court. Cleveland trailed by as many as 11 points in the final frame, and despite a late push led by Garland and Mitchell, the Jazz maintained their composure. With just over three minutes remaining, Utah held a 116-106 lead, forcing the Cavs to burn a timeout in a desperate attempt to regroup. Mobley’s late dunk and a couple of quick buckets gave the home fans hope, but the Jazz answered every run with clutch shooting and relentless rebounding.
When the final buzzer sounded, the box score told the story. Garland led Cleveland with 23 points, Mitchell added 21, and Mobley finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Yet it was Utah’s collective effort—Markkanen’s 28 and 12, George’s 32, Nurkic’s 17 boards, and crucial contributions from the bench—that made the difference. The Jazz shot 51% from the field and 50% from three-point range, while the Cavaliers managed 47% and 43% respectively. The Jazz’s ability to control the tempo, dominate the glass, and hit timely shots proved too much for a Cavaliers squad that had hoped to close the first half of the season on a high note.
“We knew we had to respond after what happened against Charlotte,” Markkanen said after the game, according to local broadcasts. “Everyone stepped up tonight. We played for each other, and it showed.”
For Cleveland, the loss dropped their record to 22-19 and served as a reminder that even the league’s most explosive offenses can be stymied by hustle, execution, and a little bit of revenge. The Jazz, now 14-25, will look to build on this momentum as they seek to climb out of the Western Conference basement.
As the NBA season’s second half gets underway, both teams have plenty to ponder. For the Jazz, a night like this could be the spark they desperately needed. For the Cavaliers, it’s back to the drawing board as they chase consistency and a higher playoff seed. One thing’s for sure—the NBA never fails to deliver surprises, and Monday night in Cleveland was no exception.
