NBA: Jazz's Ace Bailey, an 'incredible athlete,' focuses on defense ahead of game vs. Raptors

In an encouraging sign for the rebuilding Utah Jazz, rookie Ace Bailey’s defensive game is catching up to his already impressive offensive skills.

Bailey will look to continue his growth when the Jazz host the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Utah (21-50) has been eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference and has lost five of its last six games. Toronto (39-31) sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Jazz were well aware of Bailey’s offensive potential when they selected the 6-foot-9 wing with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Rutgers. In recent weeks, he has started to make an impact on both ends of the floor.

One game after scoring a career-high 33 points against the Milwaukee Bucks, Bailey recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, and a season-high five blocks in a 126-116 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to score 25-plus points while blocking five or more shots in a game, with only Kevin Durant achieving the feat at a younger age.

Jazz coach Will Hardy praised Bailey’s all-around growth. Over his last nine games, Bailey has averaged 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 45.7% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc.

“Ace is an incredible athlete, and it’s not just offensively,” Hardy said. “His ability to cover ground, close out, and guard the ball has improved tremendously. I truly believe he’s grown more on the defensive side than he has offensively.”

Bailey said defense has been a key focus during his rookie season.

“With the team we’re building, being a defender is a very big role, especially if you want to stay on the court,” Bailey said. “If you want to win, you’ve got to play both offense and defense. I want to win, so I have to do both.”

Utah is seeking redemption after a 107-100 road loss to Toronto on Feb. 1. The Jazz will also rely on guard Kennedy Chandler, who scored a career-high 19 points in his team debut on Saturday after signing a 10-day contract.

The Raptors enter Monday’s matchup coming off a 120-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, the second night of a back-to-back. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 17 points as the team trailed by as many as 31 and never led.

“I wish I knew the answer to that one,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said of his team’s lack of competitiveness. “I tried everything—encouraging, not encouraging. We failed. We did not have it tonight.”

Brandon Ingram, who had been averaging 25.8 points over his last five games, was limited to six points on 3-of-10 shooting. Rajakovic, however, emphasized that responsibility is shared.

“It’s a whole team effort. We win as a team, we lose as a team. We never want to point out a single player,” he said. “I thought our whole team lacked urgency and respect for our opponent (Sunday).”

Toronto hopes to have rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles available Monday after missing the past 11 games with a left thumb sprain.

—Field Level Media/Reuters