Utah Jazz Make Good on Second Game of Back-To-Back, Down Sacramento Kings 98-91
Currently in 10th Place, Jazz keep pace in playoff race
Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert is obscured Sacramento Kings forward Vince Carter (15) as Ricky Rubio observed at Golden 1 Center. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. March. 3, 2018.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. —
The Utah Jazz completed their back-to-back by taking down the Sacramento Kings 98-91 at Golden 1 Center on Saturday. The Jazz are 10-15 in back-to-back games this season. Rookie Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Jazz (33-30) with 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Rudy Gobert added 16 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and three blocked shots. The Jazz biggest lead was in the first half when Joe Engles made a 3-point shot to make the score 45-27 at the 4:32 mark of the second quarter. The game was tied twice early in the game, but after the 18-point lead by the Jazz, the Kings couldn’t any closer than seven points the rest of the way. The Kings only made 34 of 89 shots from the field at 38.2 percent. “They can make you look small and they are big,” Kings head coach Dave Joerger said. “They are tough to score on when their defense sets up. That's the battle.”
Utah has won 114 of their last 16 games, which included an 11-game winning streak that started with a 98-95 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 24. The Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-108 at home the night before. The Jazz currently sit in 10th place of the Western Conference’s playoff picture. The Los Angeles Clippers (33-28) are in ninth place, and the Denver Nuggets (35-28) presently own the eighth spot. “Every game is big for us,” Gobert said. “We just have to take it one game at a time and try to win every game. At the end of the season, we’ll see where we’re at.” Mitchell was named Rookie of the Month for February averaging 21.4 points per game. He also won the Slam Dunk contest during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. “He’s been playing well all year,” Kings rookie De’Aaron Fox said. “He’s been their close when they put the ball in his hands. He has really shown up.” Fox had 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals for the Kings (19-44). Bogdan Bogdanovic had 15 points and five rebounds. Skal Labissiere added 12 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocked shots. The Kings have lost five-straight games to the Jazz and they have lost six of their last seven games. Sacramento will take on the New York Knicks on Feb. 4 for their back-to-back series.
PUBLIC INFORMATION | Willie Cauley-Stein was inactive due to a lower-back strain. | The Utah Jazz only made 19 of 29 shots, 65.5 percent, at the free-throw line. But Donovan Mitchell made all 10 of his tries from the charity stripe.
By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist
Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents
T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.
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