Rookie Walker Kessler got his NBA career off to a strong start when he tallied a double-double in his first game for the Utah Jazz, the second team to trade for him before opening night after he was selected 22nd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.
While he has had some moments since his debut, Kessler produced the best overall performance of his career on Friday. He will look to follow it up when the Jazz play host to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
The 7-footer scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting, hauled in 11 rebounds and blocked two shots to help the Jazz earn a 139-119 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
Kessler had reached double figures in scoring just once since the opener against the Denver Nuggets, when he amassed 12 points and 10 rebounds. The double-digit rebound total on Friday was his first since his debut.
Jazz coach Will Hardy, whom some have jokingly teased about looking like Kessler, likes that his young big man affects opponents’ shots even when he doesn’t block them. Bonus: Kessler ranked eighth in the NBA with 1.6 rejections per game despite only averaging 15.8 minutes, by far the less action of any player in the top 10.
Kessler was one of many Jazz players to play well against Indiana. Lauri Markkanen had 24 points and 13 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Jordan Clarkson helped fuel an important first-half run and scored 19 points. Collin Sexton had 18 points, and Malik Beasley added 16.
While the Jazz appear to be on the right track, winning two straight after a five-game skid, the Blazers enter the Saturday contest with a noticeable limp. Portland lost for the seventh time in eight games on Wednesday, dropping a 128-109 decision to the host Los Angeles Lakers.
The Blazers have been without injured star Damian Lillard for six consecutive games, and he will be out against the Jazz, too.
It didn’t help that the Blazers were playing their second game in as many nights on Wednesday, having fallen to the Los Angeles Clippers 118-112 in Portland on Tuesday.
