SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Huerter delivered an impressive performance, scoring 26 points along with six successful three-pointers, as the Sacramento Kings triumphed over the Utah Jazz with a commanding score of 141-97 on Sunday evening.
The Kings have shown great offensive prowess lately, winning three out of their last four games. They previously scored a staggering 140 points in a victory against the Spurs on Friday.
On the other side, the Jazz, struggling with their form, have lost six of their past seven encounters. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 25 points, while John Collins contributed 19 points to their cause.
The Jazz never managed to seize the lead during the game. Sacramento surged ahead, establishing a 20-point advantage by the second quarter and finished the first half with a 62-45 scoreline. The Kings maintained their dominance in the third quarter, racking up 43 points and taking a substantial 31-point lead into the final quarter thanks to De’Aaron Fox’s buzzer-beater.
De’Aaron Fox also had a notable night with 21 points and nine assists, while Domantas Sabonis contributed 19 points and secured 12 rebounds. Doug McDermott lit up the fourth quarter with six three-pointers, finishing the game with 18 points, which sparked a “Doug-ie” chant from the enthusiastic crowd.
In terms of takeaways, Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz’s leading scorer, who had missed the previous match due to a back injury, struggled to find his rhythm, scoring only eight points on a disappointing 2-of-9 shooting.
For the Kings, this game marked a turnaround in their three-point shooting performance, as they hit 50% from beyond the arc (22 out of 44 attempts) and shot 57% overall. Head coach Mike Brown had earlier stressed the significance of defensive effort and alternative strategies to clinch victories despite the team’s earlier shooting struggles.
A pivotal moment in the game came when DeMar DeRozan and Sabonis teamed up for an 11-2 run in the second quarter, allowing the Kings to stretch their lead to 20 points.
As for key statistics, the Kings have achieved over 50% shooting in consecutive games, following a commendable 56.7% success rate against the Spurs.
Looking ahead, the Kings will face the Pelicans in their next outing on Thursday night, while the Jazz will host the Suns on Friday night.
