Jazz Center Walker Kessler Dunks On Blazers After Dish From Kelly Olynyk
Dec 3, 2022, 7:52 PM | Updated: 7:55 pm
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) dunks (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz center Walker Kessler threw down a slam dunk after a beautiful assist from Kelly Olynyk during Utah’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Jazz hosted the Blazers at Vivint Arena on Saturday, December 3.
RELATED: Lauri Markkanen Hot Early For Jazz Against Trail Blazers
With 1:15 to go in the opening quarter, Olynyk drove the lane before avoiding defenders and dropping a dime of a pass to Kessler in the paint. The rookie from Auburn jumped up and jammed the ball through the cylinder for two points.
Kessler’s dunk cut Portland’s lead to 36-29.
The vet finds the rook ➡️ pic.twitter.com/g2cMs4MWr1
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 4, 2022
At the end of the quarter, Portland owned a 40-31 lead.
During his first minutes of action, Kessler had two points on 1-1 shooting.
This season, the center is averaging 5.7 points per game on 74.3 percent shooting. He also records 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 0.2 steals in 15.8 minutes per contest.
Utah’s game against Portland is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
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Trail Blazers vs. Jazz
The Jazz now turn their attention to the Portland Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back.
Portland is on an extended rest, having not played since Wednesday night in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Trail Blazers, like the Jazz, opened the season making a surprise fight for the spot in the Western Conference before key injuries derailed their momentum.
Portland was 10-4 on November 16, but has since dropped seven of their last eight outings, and sits at 11-11 and in 10th place in the Western Conference.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz take on the @trailblazers on https://t.co/4kU961CZ7h and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/vSsiAkk9aq pic.twitter.com/9brOmHwpcW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 4, 2022
Their struggles coincide with a calf strain to Damian Lillard who has missed the team’s last four games.
Lillard originally suffered the injury in the Jazz and Trail Blazers’ last meeting which the Jazz won 118-113.
The superstar guard is not expected to suit up for Portland until they return home to face the Pcares on December 4.
In their last meeting, the Jazz got 29 points from Malik Beasley off the bench and 28 from Jordan Clarkson who led all starters.
Anfernee Simons scored 23 points to lead the Blazers but was only 4-13 from the three-point line in the loss.
