Utah Jazz guard Patty Mills (8) reaches for the basketball with the Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) and forward Trey Lyles (41) defending, and the Jazz forward John Collins (20) in foreground at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Tue Oct 29, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The Sacramento Kings got going early and they continued to compete at a high level for the entire game. They outscored the Jazz in the first three quarters with the final score 113-96.
The bench got to play the final four minutes of the game with the exception of Malik Monk, Keon Ellis and Trey Lyles who played extended minutes. Domantas Sabonis turned in another double double with 28 points and 11 rebounds. This was the Kings first road win and the win leveled their season to 2-2.
Game recap: The Kings got a jump start on the Jazz in the first quarter of play leading 34-22 after the opening 12 minutes. Utah challenged the Kings in the second quarter of play outscoring Sacramento 30-27. The Kings took a 61-52 lead into the locker room at the half.
Sacramento came into the second half extending their lead 75-60 mid-way through the quarter. The Kings had their entire starting roster already at double digits with 1 1/2 quarters left in the game.
Domantas Sabonis was leading the way through 2 1/2 quarters with another double double, 22 points and ten rebounds. With under one minute left in the third quarter Sacramento had taken a 24 point lead.
The Kings kept the pressure on Utah the entire quarter outscoring the Jazz in the quarter 29-14 shooting at 52% from the field to the Jazz’s 34% and leading going into the fourth quarter 90-66. Through three quarters the Kings had protected the ball well with only ten turnovers.
Sacramento really poured it on in the fourth quarter taking as much as a 27 point lead. The last few minutes saw the Kings bench take the court to finish off Utah. Sacramento had 24 second chance points to the Jazz’s 12.
The Jazz did win the final quarter 30-23 but the Kings had such a huge lead it made little difference. The game final was 113-96 as Sacramento picked up their first road win and leveled their season record to 2-2.
Sacramento was shooting lights out in this game. Domantas Sabonis shot the high for the Kings with a double double, 28 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan finished with 20 points closely followed by De’Aaron Fox with 19 points.
Every starter finished with double digits in a well-played game . The Kings dominated the entire night against a young Utah team. After such a rough pre-season and losing the first two games of the regular season, the wins Tuesday night and last night were signs of the turnaround this team is experiencing. This was not unexpected; it was just a matter of time.
The high for the Jazz was Jordan Clarkson who scored 21 points. The Jazz lost ace Lauri Markkanen who had to leave the floor at halftime with lower back spasms, a crushing blow for Utah when he was unable to return in the second half. Utah is still looking for their first win of the season after losing their first four starts.
Game notes: Tuesday night the Kings defeated the Jazz in Utah after winning their first game of the season Monday night beating the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98. De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan both had productive games as DeRozan seems to be settling into the starting lineup very nicely. The Jazz dropped their third game in a row losing to the Dallas Mavericks 110-102 Monday night. Sacramento handed Utah their fifth loss in a row Monday night.
Sacramento will have a few days off before returning to the court on Friday night taking on the Hawks in Atlanta. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.










