Kessler Blocks Shot, Runs Floor To Finish With Alley-Oop Dunk
Dec 30, 2022, 9:21 PM
Utah Jazz Center Walker Kessler (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz rookie center Walker Kessler was making plays on both ends of the floor in the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings.
The possession started with Walker Kessler blocking Kings guard D’Aaron Fox’s shot. Kessler got the rebound and threw to Mike Conley. The Jazz point guard waited for Kessler to get near the rim when he threw an alley-oop pass to the rookie, who finished with a two-handed slam dunk. That cut the Kings’ lead to 55-52 with 1:32 remaining in the second quarter.
Kessler recorded nine points and four rebounds in 12 minutes in the first half. Conley finished the first half with six points and four assists.
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π³ππ½πΊπ΄π Kessler pic.twitter.com/1b84vCCPhD— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 31, 2022
Jazz Struggling On Road
After losses to the lowly Spurs and a Warriors team playing without three starters, the Jazz will look for their first quality road win in more than a month.
The Jazz are just 2-10 in their last 12 road games and haven’t beaten a playoff team away from home since downing the Portland Trail Blazers 1188-113 on November 19.
Since that win, the Jazz are 1-8 as the visiting team with their lone win coming against the league-worst Detroit Pistons on December 20.
The Jazz have the second-worst record on the road among all teams in the NBA since November 12, trailing only the 2-11 Washington Wizards.
On the bright side for the team, Friday’s matchup with the Kings will mark the league-leading 21st road game of the season, meaning the Jazz have played more than half of their total road games for the season before January 1.
Kings Have Hit A Road Bump
After jumping out to a quick 10-6 start to open the season the Kings have fallen back to earth over their last 17 games.
The Kings are just 8-9 since November 23rd and have dropped from the fifth seed in the West to the seventh.
Sacramento owns the league’s seventh-best offensive rating for the season, but are ranked 19th over their last 17 games.
Despite their recent struggles, forward Domontas Sabonis has been a bright spot for the Kings.
The Gonzaga product is averaging 19.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting a staggering 52 percent from the three-point line in his last 16 appearances.
Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and Kings game is being televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. It can also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.
