NBA: Jazz send Kings to franchise record-tying 14th straight loss

Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen Lead Utah Jazz Past Sacramento Kings 121-93

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 19 points and seven rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz to a 121-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.

The loss marked Sacramento’s 14th straight, tying a franchise record previously set by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1959-60 season and matched in 1971-72.

Isaiah Collier contributed 12 points and 14 assists to help Utah secure its second consecutive win. Brice Sensabaugh added 19 points off the bench.

Jackson made his home debut with the Jazz after being traded from Memphis on February 3. He has scored at least 20 points in all three games since joining Utah.

The Jazz dominated offensively throughout the game, shooting 54.7% from the field and making 15 3-pointers. Utah outscored Sacramento 58-42 in the paint and 25-6 on fast-break points.

For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan led with 20 points, while Devin Carter contributed 19. Sacramento trailed by double digits for 40 minutes and shot just 7 of 33 from beyond the arc.

Markkanen and Sensabaugh combined for five consecutive baskets during a 24-3 run that gave Utah a commanding 39-15 lead with 35 seconds left in the first quarter. The Jazz held Sacramento scoreless for nearly six minutes, limiting them to 7-of-29 (24.1%) shooting in the first quarter. Utah scored on seven straight possessions during the stretch.

Back-to-back baskets from Daeqwon Plowden and DeRozan over the final 11 seconds of the first quarter ended Sacramento’s drought.

Utah maintained control throughout the rest of the game, leading 71-44 at halftime and extending the advantage to 34 points entering the fourth quarter. Sensabaugh capped the run with back-to-back layups, the second coming at the buzzer, putting Utah up 100-66.

-Field Level Media/Reuters