UTAH JAZZ
Jazz Center Walker Kessler Reaches For Reverse Layup Against Mavericks
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz center Walker Kessler used his long arms to score an impressive reverse layup to open Utah’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Jazz hosted the Mavericks at Vivint Arena on Monday, February 6.
18 seconds into the contest, Kelly Olynyk fed the ball to a cutting Kessler with a nice bounce pass. The rookie from Auburn collected the roundball before reaching under the backboard for a layup.
Kessler’s bucket gave the Jazz an early 2-0 lead.
Walker's not messin' 'round 🤠#TakeNote | @WalkerKessler13 pic.twitter.com/PqyFELJ3NP
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 7, 2023
During his first eight minutes on the hardwood, Kessler had six points on 3-4 field goals. He also recorded four rebounds and an assist.
This season, Kessler is averaging 7.8 points per game on 71.7 percent shooting. He also averages 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 0.4 steals in 20.3 minutes per game.
Kessler was recently named to the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge.
Utah’s game against Dallas is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
Mavericks vs. Jazz
Dallas Short Bodies After Irving Trade
On Sunday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania announced that the Mavericks were trading guard Spencer Dinwiddie and forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Irving and Markieff Morris.
Irving has 48 hours to report to Dallas and won’t be available when they face the Jazz on Monday night.
The Mavericks had already announced that superstar guard Luka Doncic would miss the game against the Jazz with a heel injury.
Dinwiddie torched the Jazz for 35 points on 11-23 shooting when the Mavericks were in town on January 30, despite suffering a 108-100 loss.
Though shorthanded, Dallas will welcome forward Christian Wood back to the lineup after missing the last eight games with a thumb injury.
Guard Frank Ntilikina is questionable with a non-Covid illness.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz are back home to face the @dallasmavs on https://t.co/4kU961UAvR and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/Ajrn0Pt3i9 pic.twitter.com/capjca0wP6
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 7, 2023
Jazz Look For Bounceback Win
The Jazz had one of their uglier performances in Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks shooting a sluggish 1-12 from the three-point line in the first quarter.
The Hawks built a 20-point lead in the second quarter and coasted to a stress-free 115-108 victory in Salt Lake City.
RELATED: Jazz Defense Stifles Shorthanded Mavericks
Rookie Walker Kessler had a rare down performance against Atlanta scoring two points and grabbing five rebounds in 17 minutes.
Kessler is averaging 13.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks in Jazz wins since entering the starting lineup in early January, and just 6.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in the losses.
