Sacramento Kings Dominate Utah Jazz with Impressive Shooting Performance
Image credits: KSL.com
The Sacramento Kings delivered a dominant performance against the Utah Jazz, securing a 118-101 win on Wednesday night. Keegan Murray scored a season-high 26 points, while Zach LaVine added 22 points to lift the Kings to victory. Murray made five 3-pointers, and LaVine had four, as the Kings made 15 of 36 from beyond the arc. The team's potent offense was equally effective inside the paint, with 50 points, and they shot 52.9% overall to start their four-game road swing.
Murray's impressive performance included a mix of dunks, drives, and his trademark long jumpers, topping 20 points for the first time since he had 21 on Nov. 24 in a loss to Brooklyn. Walker Kessler had a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds for Utah, which has lost four of five. Kessler joined Nikola Jokic as the only players in NBA history with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and no turnovers while shooting 100% from the field. The Jazz, however, struggled to compete on the interior and were outrebounded 47-34, with their top scorers, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Collin Sexton, held out due to injuries.
The Kings' offense was a key factor in their win, as they ran a precision offense in the second half to stay one pass ahead of the Jazz and get easy shots. DeMar DeRozan's jumper with 9:48 to play capped a 14-3 run that made it 91-72 and broke open the game. Jordan Clarkson, on the other hand, had a tough night, avoiding a scoreless game by making a layup with 1:09 to play, but shot 1 for 14 for 2 points. The Kings play at Houston on Saturday, while the Jazz continue their nine-game homestand Friday against Minnesota.
The Jazz's defense struggled to contain the Kings' potent offense, and they had no inside threat beyond Kessler. The team's poor perimeter shooting was also a factor, with Clarkson's struggles being a key example. Despite this, the Jazz had some positive performances, including Kessler's impressive game and KJ Martin's 16 points. The team will look to bounce back from this loss and improve their rebounding efforts in their next game.
Here are the match scores and player statistics:
- Sacramento Kings: 118
- Utah Jazz: 101
- Keegan Murray: 26 points, 5 3-pointers
- Zach LaVine: 22 points, 4 3-pointers
- Walker Kessler: 25 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists
- Jordan Clarkson: 2 points, 1-14 shooting
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