SALT LAKE CITY — The Sacramento Kings secured a solid road victory over the Utah Jazz with a final score of 118-101 on Wednesday evening, powered by an impressive performance from Keegan Murray, who achieved his highest scoring game of the season with 26 points, while Zach Levine added 22 points to the effort.
Murray showcased his sharpshooting abilities by knocking down five three-pointers, while Levine contributed with four, and Keon Ellis added three more shots from beyond the arc. The Kings finished strong from three-point range with a combined total of 15 shots made out of 36 attempts. Inside the paint was no different, as Sacramento dominated with 50 points and an impressive overall shooting accuracy of 52.9% to kick off their four-game road trip.
Murray displayed a versatile scoring performance, mixing it up with dunks, drives, and his renowned long-range jumpers. This was his first time crossing the 20-point mark since scoring 21 points on November 24th in a competition against Brooklyn.
For the Jazz, Walker Kessler delivered a season-high performance with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while KJ Martin marked his top game since joining Utah during the trade deadline with a personal tally of 16 points. Unfortunately for Utah, they have experienced losses in four of their last five contests.
Utah strategically rested their primary scorers including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Collin Sexton due to injuries, which reflected in their on-court performance. With Sacramento’s stout defensive pressure, the Jazz faced challenges competing in the interior and ultimately lost the rebound battle 47-34.
Key observations included the Kings’ refined offensive strategy, which saw them clear of the Jazz defense through precise ball movement contributing to open shots. Conversely, for the Jazz, Kessler’s inside presence was one of the limited threats, hindered further by their inefficacy from the perimeter.
A notable game moment was DeMar DeRozan’s jump shot that concluded a decisive 14-3 run, pushing Sacramento’s lead to a commanding 91-72 with just under 10 minutes to play.
A critical statistic from the contest was Jordan Clarkson’s late-game layup, preventing him from experiencing a scoreless game since joining the Jazz, although he struggled as he finished with just 2 points on an off shooting night of 1 for 14.
Looking ahead, the Kings are set to face Houston this Saturday, whereas the Jazz will stay at home to continue their nine-game stretch with Minnesota visiting this Friday.
