Jazz Fall To Kings To Finish Road Trip Winless
Dec 30, 2022, 10:32 PM | Updated: 10:50 pm
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the Sacramento Kings 126-125 despite the late-game heroics of Lauri Markkanen.
Markkanen scored 36 points on 16-24 shooting, including 11 points in the fourth quarter, but missed the potential game-winner.
Domantas Sabonis scored 28 points on a perfect 12-12 shooting for the Kings as Sacramento handed the Jazz their third straight loss on the road trip.
First Quarter
The Jazz fell behind 6-0 early in the first quarter as their cold shooting continued from Wednesday night’s loss at Golden State.
However, after an 0-3 start from the floor, they responded by making six of their next eight.
Vando 🪡 ➡️ The Finnisher#TakeNote https://t.co/x84QmP74Y1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2022
The Jazz shot just 1-7 from the three-point line but earned 11 trips to the free-throw line to keep the game competitive.
After one the Jazz trailed the Kings 30-27.
Second Quarter
The Kings lead climbed to as large as nine in the first half behind 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on a perfect 5-5 shooting from Domantas Sabonis.
The Jazz continued to struggle from the three-point line in the second quarter knocking down just 2-8 to finish 3-15 at the half.
The Rookie 🚫💪😤#TakeNote https://t.co/MCTqpKZSpV
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2022
Lauri Markkanen scored 13 points while Jordan Clarkson added 11 for the Jazz at the half.
At the break, the Jazz trailed the Kings 60-57.
Third Quarter
The Kings lead grew to 10 at 77-67 midway through the quarter as the Jazz’s poor shooting continued.
But after a timeout, an 8-0 run trimmed the Jazz deficit to two led by Clarkson’s six-point quarter.
The Finnisher put Sabonis on a POSTER! 😲👀#TakeNote https://t.co/Ew4nNy3DjU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 31, 2022
Markkanen upped his total to 25 points through three, while big threes from Mike Conley and Rudy Gay kept the Jazz close.
Heading into the fourth quarter the Jazz trailed the Kings 91-87.
Fourth Quarter
The Jazz took a 111-109 lead midway through the fourth quarter on a Jarred Vanderbilt dunk but a 10-0 gave the Kings a 119-111 lead with 3:16 left to play.
Sabonis finished with 28 points on a perfect 12-12 shooting from the floor, while Markkanen led the Jazz with 36 on 16-24 shooting, but missed six of his seven three-point attempts.
With the loss, the Jazz went winless on their three-game road trip.
The Jazz fell 126-125 in Sacramento to the Kings.