INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Isaiah Collier had a career-high 22 assists — the most in the NBA this season and the most by a Utah player since John Stockton in 1992 — and the Jazz beat the Indiana Pacers 131-122 on Tuesday night with just seven healthy players.
Lauri Markkanen scored 27 points for the Jazz, who were short-handed after trading Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks to Memphis earlier Tuesday for Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr.
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots between Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) and guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy (12) defends Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey (19) blocks the shot of Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) gets a dunk against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson (55) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The last NBA player with 22 assists in a game was Denver's Nikola Jokic last March 7. Collier, who played the entire game, also scored 17 points as all seven Utah players had 14 points or more. Brice Sensabaugh scored 20, Ace Bailey had 19 and Kyle Filipowski had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Quenton Johnson scored 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting and Jarace Walker also had 24 for the Pacers, who held out four regular starters — All-Star Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell — for rest or because of minor injuries. All four played a night earlier, when Indiana lost 118-114 to visiting Houston.
Little-used Kam Jones, a healthy scratch on Monday, made his first career start for the Pacers and had 12 points.
Keyonte George (ankle), Kevin Love (illness) and Walker Kessler (shoulder) sat out for the Jazz. Jusuf Nurkic was listed as available with an illness but did not play.
Stockton had 22 assists for Utah on Dec. 18, 1992 against Philadelphia. The Hall of Famer also had eight games with 23 or more, including a career-best 28 on Jan. 15, 1991 against San Antonio.
Jazz: At Atlanta on Thursday night.
Pacers: At Milwaukee on Friday night.
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots between Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) and guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy (12) defends Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey (19) blocks the shot of Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) gets a dunk against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson (55) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
NEW YORK (AP) — After two days, 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds, the Westminster Kennel Club is coming down to just seven canines vying for U.S. show dogs' most coveted prize.
The winner gets a trophy, ribbons, bragging rights and, this year, the distinction of winning the milestone 150th annual Westminster show.
Finalists so far include an Afghan hound named Zaida, a Lhasa apso called JJ, a Maltese named Cookie and an old English sheepdog dubbed Graham. Also in the running are a Chesapeake Bay called Cota and a Doberman pinscher named Penny.
One more rival will be selected Tuesday night before they all face off at Madison Square Garden for the best in show award.
Whichever dog ends up with the prize, lots of others scored meme-able moments or light up the crowd, even if they didn't make the finals.
Over two nights of semifinals, spectators cheered extra-loud for a Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco, a hairless dog who went around the ring like he had nothing to prove. A vizsla named Beamer charmed the crowd by hopping into a box set out for his handler's tools, and Storm the Newfoundland got laughs when he jumped up on his handler, standing almost as tall as she. Spectators cheered so loud for a golden retriever named Oliver that they drowned out the arena's announcer, and chants of “Lumpy! Lumpy!” resounded as Lumpy the Pekingese strolled before a judge.
One dog that made history in the semifinals was Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog. The small, spry breed just became eligible for the Westminster show this year, and Millie bested about 10 other farmdogs Tuesday afternoon to get to the evening round.
“It's been a very exciting journey” to establish the breed in the U.S., said Brita Lemmon, who competed with her farmdog, named Coyote. A plant nursery owner from Seal Beach, California, she got her first farmdog from a Danish breeder in 2000, after looking through an encyclopedia of breeds.
Westminster wins often go to pooches with professional handlers or owners with decades or even generations of experience behind them. But just reaching the elite, champions-only show is a major accomplishment in dogdom, especially for first-timers such as Joseph Carrero and his Neapolitan mastiff, Dezi.
After yearning for a Neo since his teenage years, Carrero finally got one when he was 35. A heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nevada, he started showing the dog only because the breeder wanted him to. Now Carrero himself breeds and handles his Neos in the ring, while also working full-time and then some.
“It's really hard for us to do this, but we enjoy it, and he enjoys it,” Carrero said as a visitors gathered around to greet the jowly, 190-pound dog.
Boerboels, which are formidable guard dogs originally from South Africa, played a major role in how Natalee Ridenhour met her late husband and why she eventually left metropolitan life for a farm in Royse City, Texas.
On Tuesday, Ridenhour and a Boerboel named Invictus did something else she once would never have pictured: compete at the Westminster show.
The dog didn't advance past the first round. But as a visitor delightedly petted the 170-pound animal, Ridenhour said, “Honestly, the big win is: You're about the 50th person who's gotten down in his face and loved on him.”
Millie, a Danish-Swedish farm dog, competes in the working dog group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Penny, a doberman pinscher, competes in the working group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Chesapeake Bay retriever named Next Generation's Accelerate, or Cota, grabs the blue ribbon from his handler after winning the sporting group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Lagotto Romagnolo named "Boardwalk Here Comes the Sun" competes in the sporting group of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Handler Hadrian Towell guides Manchester terrier Passport Sunkissed It's a Yes from Me Bonchien through the ring during the Junior Showmanship finals competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Weimaraner, named Sophia, competes in the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A handler guides Hillcock's Burl Oak through the ring during the sporting dog group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Chesapeake Bay retriever named Next Generation's Accelerate, or Cota, grabs the blue ribbon from his handler after winning the sporting group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Dogs wait to be judged in the demo ring at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A blood hound waits in the grooming area at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A groomer prepares their dog at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A handler with a dog treat in his mouth adjusts his Ibizan hound's stance at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
