Jazz Rookie Ochai Agbaji Records Hot Start From Three Against Bulls
Jan 7, 2023, 6:55 PM | Updated: 7:24 pm
Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a three pointer (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz rookie Ochai Agbaji connected on a trio of three-pointers during his first action during Utah’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls hosted the Jazz at United Center in Chicago on Saturday, January 7.
With 10:42 left in the first half, Agbaji buried a 23-foot jumper on a beautiful assist from Malik Beasley. 39 seconds later, the rookie hit his second shot of the game to cut Chicago’s lead to 34-30. Agbaji’s third three came on a 24-foot attempt at the 8:10 mark. The triple made it a 38-34 Bulls lead.
The Kansas product started the game 3-3 shooting, all from beyond the arc, for nine points during his first six minutes on the court.
𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘪𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘖𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪,,,#TakeNote | @youngoch pic.twitter.com/5Etzexa9vb
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2023
During Utah’s last game, Agbaji scored a career-high 11 points, a performance that included a personal 8-0 run.
After a standout career at Kansas, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Agbaji as the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
He was traded to the Jazz before the start of the season. During his first 18 games as a rookie, Agbaji is averaging 3.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.1 steals in 8.4 minutes per contest.
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Utah’s game against Chicago is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
Jazz vs. Bulls
The Utah Jazz will face a difficult midwest double-header this weekend when they face the Bulls and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Jazz are coming off a much-needed 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets in which forward Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 49 points.
At the midway point of the season, the Jazz sit at 20-21 and in the 10th seed in the West.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz continue their road trip against the @chicagobulls on the @KSLSportsZone and https://t.co/4kU961UAvR.#TakeNote https://t.co/yrF2iJAqaq pic.twitter.com/nox0rmsY8O
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2023
Bulls Amid Best Stretch Of The Season
The Bulls have had a disappointing first half of the season sitting at 17-21 on the season and in the 10th seed in the East.
However, they’ve won six of their last nine games including a win Wednesday night over the Brooklyn Nets.
RELATED: Markkanen Career-High 49 Points Snaps Jazz Losing Streak
In addition to the Nets, the Bulls have wins over the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks in their last nine outings.
The Bulls will face the Philadelphia 76ers on the road Friday on the front end of a back-to-back before hosting the Jazz on Saturday evening.
Over the last nine games the Bulls own the ninth-best offensive rating in the NBA and the 22nd-ranked defensive rating.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 28.8 points per game during the stretch while Zach LaVine is adding 24.3 per contest.
