The Utah Jazz will be riding the momentum of one of opening night’s biggest surprises when they go for a second straight win at the expense of the host Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Coming off a season in which they won only 17 games and had the worst record in the NBA, the Jazz got double-figure scoring from three starters and three reserves in a shockingly easy 129-108 romp over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Utah outshot and outrebounded its highly regarded opponent, but big man Walker Kessler was most impressed with the Jazz’s teamwork, which helped produce a whopping 38 assists on 48 baskets.
“That was fun. That was fun all around,” Kessler said. “I mean, 38 assists. We flew around, played great defense. It was a lot of fun. That’s a fun way to play. Celebrate each other, and that kind of energy is contagious.”
Keyonte George led Utah’s ball distribution with nine assists, while six of his teammates chipped in with at least three.
The Jazz opened 0-6 last season. They went 0-4 against the Clippers, averaging just 109.5 points while losing by a total of 72 points.
Utah had similar issues with the Kings, who limited the Jazz to an average of 102.8 points while sweeping the four-game season series by a cumulative 82 points.
This time around, the Jazz will see a Sacramento team looking to bounce back from a 120-116 opening loss at Phoenix on Wednesday. The Kings blew a 20-point lead in the defeat.
Sacramento began the season without star center Domantas Sabonis, who is questionable for Friday due to a strained hamstring, and top perimeter threat Keegan Murray, who is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks with a torn ligament in his left thumb.
What the Kings will have Friday will be the home-court advantage, which coach Doug Christie has listed as one of his team’s biggest assets.
“We want to protect home court,” Christie told the media leading into the season. “We want fans to know when they come into this gym, they’re going to see something that makes them proud. You’re not always going to win the game, but they know what they’re going to get when our team puts on a Sacramento Kings uniform.”
Sacramento’s home opener will feature new faces on both sides of the court.
The Kings started three newcomers in Phoenix, led by veteran point guard Dennis Schroder, who had 14 points and seven assists. Free agent addition Drew Eubanks and rookie Nique Clifford also joined holdovers DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine in the starting lineup, which got the Kings off to a 29-19 start after one quarter.
The top addition for the Jazz in the offseason was Ace Bailey, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 draft. He played 20 minutes off the bench against the Clippers, chipping in with two points, four rebounds and two assists.
–Field Level Media
