The Hive Sports

Going into this game, I believed the Utah Jazz were going to get blown out by the Los Angeles Clippers, led by future Hall of Famers Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Chris Paul. Instead, the Jazz did the opposite. The team put up a whopping 43 points — not in the first half, but in the first quarter — while the Clippers managed just 19. The Jazz continued to hold a large lead until the final buzzer, winning 129-108.

The Jazz defense looked elite, establishing a lead early. Instead of waiting to react, they dictated the pace and forced the Clippers into uncomfortable positions. The Clippers were held to just over 30% from three-point range and committed 15 total turnovers. Utah big man Walker Kessler had four blocks and was dominant defending the paint. Utah’s defense against the Clippers set the tone by disrupting the opponent early, limiting key shots, protecting the rim and converting stops into momentum.

On the other side of the ball, the Jazz were just as dominant. Like their defense, the offense had an explosive start, jumping out to a 43–19 lead after the first quarter. Overall, Utah shot 55.2% from the field. The ball movement was elite, as the Jazz recorded 38 assists — led by Keyonte George, who dished out nine. Utah’s pace was quick and efficient, keeping the Clippers on their heels all night.

Six Jazz players scored in double figures: Walker Kessler (22), Lauri Markkanen (20), Brice Sensabaugh (20), Keyonte George (16), Taylor Hendricks (13) and rookie Isaiah Clayton Jr. (13).

Star of the Night: Walker Kessler

Next up: Utah takes on Sacramento on Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. MT.