Three Utah Jazz players scored at least 20 points in a season-opening 129-108 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.
Walker Kessler led the Jazz with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks, while Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh each netted 20 points.
The Jazz shot 55.2% from the field and dished out 38 assists while setting a franchise record for points in a season opener. It was Utah’s first win in a season opener since the 2022-23 season.
Ivica Zubac topped the Clippers with 19 points, James Harden had 15 points and 11 assists and Kawhi Leonard chipped in 10 points.
Los Angeles never led and trailed by as many as 37 points in a lackluster opener.
Markkanen set the tone with a 3-pointer on the Jazz’s first possession followed by a dunk to put Utah up 5-0.
Kessler had his own five-point run a few minutes later as the Jazz went ahead 26-14 to take a double-digit lead for good.
Utah finished the first quarter on a 24-5 run for a 43-19 lead, and then continued to dominate in the second quarter for a surprising 78-47 halftime cushion.
That is the most points the Jazz have scored in a half in two seasons and matched the high allowed by the Clippers in a half last season.
Markkanen and Kessler each scored 15 points in the opening half.
Keyonte George added 16 points with nine assists for the Jazz.
Fifth-overall pick Ace Bailey, who’s been battling the flu, finished with two points, four rebounds and two assists for the Jazz in his NBA debut, while teammate and fellow first-round selection Walter Clayton Jr. totaled 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Taylor Hendricks, who missed most of last season with a leg injury, had 13 points and five rebounds in his first game with Utah since Oct. 28, 2024.
Bradley Beal and Chris Paul had quiet debuts for the Clippers, with Beal netting five points on 2-of-5 shooting in a starting role and Paul scoring four points with four assists off the bench. Paul previously played six seasons for the Clippers (2011-17).
Former Jazz forward John Collins had 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench after joining the Clippers in the offseason.
–Field Level Media
