UTAH JAZZ
Jazz Guard Collin Sexton Proves Passing Prowess In Toronto
SALT LAKE CITY – Trade deadline moves forced Jazz guard Collin Sexton into more point guard opportunities and he’s making the most of it.
The Jazz (27-29, 11th in West) are north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors (26-30, 10th in East) on Friday, February 10.
The fourth-year guard, in his first season with the Jazz, has been creating for teammates all night against the Toronto Raptors.
Roll tide 🤝 War eagle
Take Note pic.twitter.com/sKC48xYM6k— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 11, 2023
Early in the first quarter, Sexton and rookie center Walker Kessler used the pick and roll to create space. After Sexton worked into the paint, he pulled back and threw a pinpoint pass to the rookie for a dunk.
Later in the half, Sexton combined with third-year center Udoka Azubuike for an alley-oop slam. The lighting quick guard drove by Raptors forward Pascal Siakam before hitting Azubuike flying high from the left baseline for the dunk.
a season-high for Dok in just 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 minutes (6 points) 🫡#TakeNote | @udoka35 pic.twitter.com/2mXR4HG9p1
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 11, 2023
Sexton continued creating open looks for his teammates in the second half, hitting Kessler for a pair of third quarter dunks.
no look needed 👀 pic.twitter.com/u9aIpaFeqD
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 11, 2023
In his first start since the trade of Mike Conley, Malik Beasley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Sexton has 12 points and five assists on 5-of-10 shooting.
For the season, Sexton has averages of 14. 3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Toronto has maintained the lead all game and currently hold a double-digit lead in the latter moments of the third quarter.
Lauri Markannen (16) and Kessler (15) lead the Jazz in scoring. Pascal Siakam leads all scorers with 31 points in 27 minutes.
RELATED: After Trade Deadline, Jazz Shorthanded In Toronto
Raptors Looking To Extend Win Streak
Despite heavy rumors that they may be sellers at the trade deadline, the Raptors turned out to be buyers as they reacquired former University of Utah star Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs.
Welcome back, fam!⁰⁰ #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/oBDSfS9Mt0
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 9, 2023
Toronto sits in the 10th seed in the East and is 4.5 games back of the Miami Heat for the sixth seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
The Jazz represent the Raptors’ second opponent in a five-game homestand that runs through the All-Star break.
Is Russell Westbrook In Utah A Possibility?
Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said the team doesn’t have any definitive plans for the recently acquired Russell Westbrook, but that the high-profile guard is open to playing for the team.
The Jazz acquired Westbrook along with Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones before Thursday’s trade deadline along with a lightly protected first-round draft pick from the Los Angeles Lakers.
RELATED: Utah Jazz: Russell Westbrook ‘Open To Being Here’saysThe team plans
“We are open to all sorts of possibilities with him,” Zanik said. “And he has been very positive on being here in Utah and we’ve been very open to the possibilities of him.”
The @utahjazz are working with Russell Westbrook and his agent on several possibilities with the team.
Jazz say he's open to different roles. The team's plan is to give him time to sort the situation out.
Says Westbrook is open to being here.#takenote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 10, 2023
The guard has averaged 15.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.2 rebounds coming off the bench this season for the Lakers.
Despite his strong averages, Westbrook is shooting just 41 percent from the floor and 29 percent from the three-point line.
He also has a long and difficult history in the state of Utah including a meme-worthy locker room exchange with local media and an incident in which he received racially insensitive taunts from a since-banned Jazz fan.
Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors 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.
