Trio Of Walker Kessler Dunks Ignites Utah Jazz
Dec 26, 2023, 6:38 PM
Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz shoots over Mangok Mathiang #8 and Zylan Cheatham #45 of the New Zealand Breakers during the first half of a preseason game at Delta Center on October 16, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Second-year Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler gave a struggling offense an injection of energy with three straight first-quarter dunks against the Spurs.
Utah is facing the San Antonio Spurs (4-24) at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, December 26.
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🙋 𝗕𝗜𝗚 DUNKER KESSLER FANS 🙋 pic.twitter.com/dZUuKnE1Dh
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2023
The first of three straight dunks came when Jordan Clarkson worked himself into space before deftly dishing to Kessler at the rim for an easy slam.
RELATED: Clarkson Ignites Jazz Comeback In Return From Injury
After an empty Spurs possession, Kessler cleaned up a Keyonte George missed three for a second-chance throw down that brought Utah within 11 points.
19 seconds later, Clarkson and Kessler connected again for the fourth straight bucket for the big man out of Auburn.
Utah trails San Antonio 32-27 after one quarter of play.
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The road trip continues ⛽️
Next stop: 𝚂𝚊𝚗 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚘⏰ 6:00PM MT
📺 JAZZ+ | KJZZ
📻 @kslsportszone #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Q1id85LlIJ— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 26, 2023
Led by future Hall of Fame head coach Greg Popovich, the Spurs entered this game with a 107.2 offensive rating (30th) and a 119.2 defensive rating (24th), San Antonio’s negative-12 net rating is also the worst in the NBA.
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2023 No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama averages a team-high 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds. The 7’4 Frenchman leads the NBA with three blocks per game.
Devin Vassell averages 17.9 points on more than seven three-point attempts per night. Keldon Johnson adds 17.2 points, 6.4 boards, and 3.9 assists in a team-high 32.7 minutes a night.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
Follow The Utah Jazz With KSL Sports
The Jazz wraps up a five-game road swing against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, December 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on KJZZ, Jazz+, NBA League Pass, KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM), sports.ksl.com, and the KSL Sports app.
