Kings 130, Jazz 114: Re-Light the Beam!

The Sacramento Kings kicked off the 2023-24 season with high expectations, facing off against the young Utah Jazz team. In a stunning victory, the Kings dominated the game, scoring a 130-114 win in Salt Lake City. Their offense was on fire, making 19 three-pointers and recording 29 assists on their 47 made shots. Harrison Barnes led the charge with 33 points, followed by Domantas Sabonis with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, and De’Aaron Fox with 18 points and 6 assists.

The Jazz, led by Jordan Clarkson with 24 points and 6 assists, put up a tough fight. Clarkson repeatedly torched the Kings from beyond the arc, while Lauri Markkanen contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. Although the Kings’ defense held strong in the first half, limiting the Jazz to just 35% shooting, Utah fought back in the second half, capitalizing on Sacramento’s weak perimeter defense and scoring many layups. The Jazz finished with 64 points in the paint, exposing the Kings’ defensive vulnerabilities that coach Mike Brown will address with his team.

The Kings started the game strong and never let up. Fox scored the first basket of the season with an impressive drive, followed by a behind-the-back assist from Sabonis to Barnes for a three-pointer. Domas then made a driving layup against Walker Kessler, giving the Kings a 7-0 lead. Barnes played a key role in the Kings’ early success, scoring 28 of his 33 points in the first half. He shot an incredible 10-11 from the field and 5-5 from deep. It was a phenomenal start for Barnes, especially after an inconsistent preseason. Keegan Murray also had some standout moments in the first half and ended the game with 15 points and 8 rebounds.

Game Notes

Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

• Sasha Vezenkov had an impressive start to his Sacramento career. He made a lightning-quick three-pointer on his first possession and showed strong defensive skills in the first half. Despite playing only 16 minutes, he finished with 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. It remains to be seen whether Sasha will continue to receive significant minutes once Trey Lyles returns from a left calf strain, but his performance in this game was very promising, especially considering the concerns about his inconsistent preseason performances.
• Kevin Huerter had an up-and-down night, scoring 7 points in 24 minutes on 3-9 shooting, including 1-5 from beyond the arc. While he contributed on the glass with 5 rebounds, both he and Malik Monk struggled against the Jazz’s determined drivers. On the other hand, Chris Duarte made an impact with 9 points, all coming from three-pointers, in just 15 minutes. Although Davion Mitchell didn’t score, he played a crucial role in facilitating the Kings’ offense, finishing with 4 assists.
• The Jazz predominantly played zone defense throughout the game and took some time to adjust despite the Kings’ offensive success.

The Kings will now head back to Sacramento to face the Golden State Warriors once again, this time at the Golden 1 Center on Friday.