Jazz’s Kessler Connects With Vanderbilt For Beautiful Assist Against T-Wolves
Jan 16, 2023, 3:37 PM | Updated: Jan 17, 2023, 9:56 am
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz center Walker Kessler connected with Jarred Vanderbilt for a beautiful assist during Utah’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The T-Wolves hosted the Jazz at Target Center on Monday, January 16.
RELATED: Rudy Gobert Leaves Jazz-Timberwolves Game Early, Ruled Out Due To Injury
With 9:48 to go in the third quarter, Kessler dished the ball off a cutting Vanderbilt, who put the ball off the glass and into the bucket.
Vanderbilt’s layup cut Minnesota’s lead to 66-59.
VANDO 🔄 ODNAV#TakeNote | @JVando pic.twitter.com/37WB267gZW
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 16, 2023
Midway through the quarter, Vanderbilt had nine points on 1-2 shooting. He added five rebounds, three assists, and one block during his first 17 minutes against his former team.
Kessler had a double-double with 10 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 21 minutes.
This season, Vanderbilt is averaging 8.4 points per game on 56.6 percent shooting.
Kessler is recording 7.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 0.3 steals per contest.
a career-high assists (4) for @WalkerKessler13
and a JC three 😏#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/pDM1Re0ohf
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 16, 2023
Utah’s game against Minnesota is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
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Jazz vs. Timberwolves
After losing to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Jazz travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves after their win over the Cavaliers.
The Timberwolves have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA to start the new year after a difficult close to December.
Minnesota had lost six straight to close the month but has responded by winning six of their last seven to open the year.
Gobert had been a critical piece in the team’s sudden success averaging 14.7 points and 12.3 rebounds during the stretch.
The former Jazz center’s status for the game will be worth watching after suffering a groin injury against the Cavaliers.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz are in Minnesota for an MLK matinee against the @Timberwolves on https://t.co/4kU961UAvR and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/nA7X1goZif pic.twitter.com/LY82rxkjpZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 16, 2023
The game could have playoff implications as the Jazz entered the contest trailing the Timberwolves by one game in the Western Conference standings. Minnesota owned the sixth seed in the West after Saturday’s win, but was tied with the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers in the standings.
The Jazz and Timberwolves have split their first two games of the season with each team winning on the other’s home floor.
The teams last met on December 9 in a 118-108 Timberwolves victory. The game ended in controversy after Gobert’s last-second layup with the game already in hand rubbed some players on the Jazz the wrong way.
