UTAH JAZZ
Jazz Center Walker Kessler Throws Down Dunks To Open Game Against Spurs
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz center Walker Kessler threw down a pair of dunks during the opening minutes of Utah’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Jazz hosted the Thunder at Vivint Arena on Saturday, February 25.
52 seconds into the contest, Kessler and Kelly Olynyk completed a nice pick-and-roll action that resulted in a slam by the rookie from Auburn.
Kessler’s dunk gave Utah its first points of the night and made the scoreboard 3-2 in the favor of the visiting squad.
here to hoop, man 🤠#TakeNote | @WalkerKessler13 pic.twitter.com/hNlu2HRZe9
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 26, 2023
The Spurs went on a run to take a double-digit lead before Kessler found the Jazz’s second bucket of the game.
With 8:02 left in the first quarter, Talen Horton-Tucker dumped the ball off to Kessler in the paint and the center threw down another jam to make it 13-4 Spurs.
During his first seven minutes on the court, Kessler had four points on 2-3 field goals.
a one,
a two,
a dunkaroo 🍪 pic.twitter.com/XXzwDzuo8s— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 26, 2023
This season, the Auburn product is averaging 8.2 points per game on 71.3 percent shooting. He also averages 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 0.4 steals in 21.5 minutes per contest.
Utah’s game against San Antonio is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
Spurs vs. Jazz
Markkanen, Kessler Shine Post All-Star
The Jazz frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler looked refreshed after the All-Star weekend, despite playing major roles in the festivities.
Markkanen followed up his first All-Star appearance with a dominant 43-point, 10-rebound performance against the Thunder that included 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Kessler helped send the game to overtime after scoring the game-tying putback with four seconds left in regulation, then blocking the would-be game-winner by guard Isaiah Joe.
Fresh off of appearances in the Rising Stars Challenge and the Skills Competition, Kessler finished with seven points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocks in the win.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz and @spurs from Vivint Arena on https://t.co/4kU961V8lp and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/V3LZdLDcOH pic.twitter.com/EcbZdHtsV7
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 26, 2023
Spurs Have Lost 15 Straight
The Spurs are amid their worst stretch of the season having lost 15 straight games dating back to January 20.
The contests haven’t been particularly close with the Spurs losing by an average margin of 15.5 points per game.
The Jazz represent the final two games of a nine-game road swing as part of the Spurs annual rodeo road trip.
San Antonio hasn’t played in a front of a home crowd since February 3 in a 137-125 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The two teams will play Saturday and Tuesday before the Spurs return to San Antonio where they will play eight of their next nine games.
