SALT LAKE CITY — The Sacramento Kings showcased a commanding performance against the struggling Utah Jazz, finishing the game with a score of 113-96 on Tuesday evening. Domantas Sabonis was instrumental for the Kings, contributing 28 points and securing 11 rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox added 19 points to the tally.
For the Jazz, Jordan Clarkson led the scoring effort with 21 points, and John Collins supported with 18. Unfortunately, Utah’s season has started off poorly, marked by four consecutive losses. Compounding the team’s challenges, they lost starting forwards Taylor Hendricks, who suffered a broken leg, and Lauri Markkanen, dealing with back spasms, both injuries occurring in consecutive games.
The Jazz have faced significant struggles on their home court, suffering back-to-back defeats by a staggering total of 58 points. In a positive note for the Jazz, rookie Kyle Filipowski took advantage of his extended playing time, scoring 12 points in the matchup.
For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan shined with his own impressive performance, racking up 20 points along with eight assists, as the Kings bounced back from a rocky start that saw them at 0-2. Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray both contributed with 14 points, helping their team build a lead that reached as high as 27 points at times.
Notably, while the Kings struggled from beyond the arc with a shooting percentage of merely 25.8%, they excelled inside the three-point line, hitting 65.6% of their shots. The team’s sharp ball movement allowed them to find open looks, particularly in the midrange zone. Meanwhile, the Jazz faced difficulties defending against Sacramento’s constant dribble penetration and precise passing, often fielding lineups that included multiple rookies and second-year players due to their injury woes.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Markkanen did not return for the second half because of back issues. This absence proved significant, as the Kings seized the opportunity to dominate the third quarter. With Fox leading the charge with 10 points, Sacramento held a commanding 29-14 advantage in that period, including a decisive 14-2 run to close it out.
A noteworthy statistic arose for DeRozan, who recorded at least 20 points for the fourth consecutive game since joining the Kings. This achievement places him in elite company: only Chris Webber, with a streak of seven games in February 1999, and Oscar Robertson, who had six games in October 1960, have enjoyed longer streaks to begin their time with the franchise.
Looking ahead, the Kings are set to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, while the Jazz will host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.