SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz broke their losing streak with a strong performance, defeating the Sacramento Kings 128-119 on Friday night. Keyonte George led the team with an impressive 31 points, while Lauri Markkanen contributed 28 points in the victory. Brice Sensabaugh added 20 points, helping the Jazz close out their NBA Cup group play with a 1-3 record.
On the other side, Sacramento’s Russell Westbrook made history by recording the 206th triple-double of his career, finishing the night with 16 points, a season-high 14 assists, and 12 rebounds. Despite Westbrook’s efforts, the Kings were unable to secure a victory in the NBA Cup, finishing winless in their four games. Zach LaVine starred for Sacramento, scoring 34 points, while Keegan Murray chipped in with 23 points and nine rebounds.
The game saw Sacramento trailing by 11 at halftime, but they managed to cut the deficit to just two points early in the third quarter on a three-pointer from Murray. However, the Jazz responded decisively as George hit back-to-back three-pointers followed by a floater, propelling Utah to a more comfortable lead. The Jazz closed the third quarter with a 10-0 run, taking a commanding 90-73 advantage into the final period.
In the first half, Utah established a solid foundation by holding the Kings without a field goal for a significant stretch, allowing them to spark a 20-2 run led by Markkanen. As halftime approached, Markkanen capped off an exhilarating quarter with a layup that extended Utah’s lead to 62-51.
As the Jazz look to build on this momentum, they will prepare to host the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Kings are set to host the Memphis Grizzlies the same day, seeking their first win in the NBA Cup.
This victory provides a ray of hope for the Jazz, indicating they may be finding their rhythm again after recent struggles.