This NBA Team Officially Eliminated From Playoff Contention

Getty

OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 1: View of the game ball and This is Why We Play logo before the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets on December 1, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

For a fourth consecutive season, the Utah Jazz will not be competing in the postseason. The Jazz were officially eliminated from playoff contention after a 147-111 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

“We looked flat and lethargic,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy told reporters after the game. “We just couldn’t find our energy tonight as a group… Credit to Minnesota, they took advantage of it.”

He added: “This is one we’ll just have to flush and move on to tomorrow night’s game. We’ve got to really focus right now on trying to find our energy.”

The loss dropped the Jazz to 20-49 on the season and mathematically eliminated any potential to reach the NBA Play-In Tournament. Utah could still have matched Golden State, which has a 13-game lead over the Jazz, in the standings; however, the Warriors own the season tiebreaker, which officially closed the door on any postseason hopes.

The four-year playoff drought ties the longest stretch of missed postseasons since the franchise relocated to Utah in 1979. The franchise also missed the playoffs from 2013 to 2016.

Brice Sensabaugh was the clearest bright spot against Minnesota, pouring in 41 points in the blowout loss. Rookie Ace Bailey has also started to build momentum late in the season. The 19-year-old wing entered Wednesday’s game having hit 15 of his previous 32 three-point attempts over his last five games, then knocked down five more triples against Minnesota.

Utah will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

What’s Next for the Utah Jazz

GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 05: Omer Yurtseven #77 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 05, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Jazz 126-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Now that the postseason is officially out of reach, the Jazz will spend the final 13 games focused on player development, lineup evaluation, and lottery positioning.

The Jazz also have reason to believe their roster could look much more competitive in 2026-27 if better health cooperates. A healthy roster all season probably wouldn’t have had Utah anywhere near being a serious contender this season, they also likely wouldn’t have been one of the worst teams in the NBA.

Lauri Markkanen has been limited by injury, while Walker Kessler has barely played after a torn labrum. Jaren Jackson Jr. is also expected to be a key piece once healthy.

With Markkanen, Jackson, Keyonte George, and Kessler forming the core, Utah’s final games will help determine which players—like Bailey, Sensabaugh, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, and Kyle Filipowski—fit around them long term.

The Jazz will also have a lottery pick in what is anticipated to be one of the deepest drafts in NBA history. With a solid draft, a few free agency decisions, and a healthy returning young core, Utah hopes to avoid making it five consecutive seasons without reaching the playoffs.

Alex Shoemaker Alex Shoemaker is a seasoned sports journalist and digital content strategist with more than a decade of experience in newsrooms and digital media. He has covered a wide range of sports, including March Madness, the Olympic Trials, and local high school athletics. He began his journalism career covering high school and community sports, developing a reputation for sharp storytelling and precise design that earned awards for both writing and pagination. More about Alex Shoemaker