Walker Kessler struggled mightily in his return to Utah on Sunday, putting up a shockingly low two points in 28 minutes, but it barely mattered. The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a massive comeback win against the Jazz, thanks to an absolute masterclass from Luka Dončić who dropped an insane 52 points. This team is *undefeated*, and it’s already clear they’ve got some serious firepower.
Emotions Got the Best of Kessler
Kessler’s performance was a stark contrast to his dominant first two games of the season, where he averaged 24 points on 84.6% shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 1.5 steals. Against his old team, he only managed 1-of-2 shooting, seven rebounds, and committed four fouls. After spending the first four years of his career in Utah, Kessler admitted that emotions totally got the best of him. “Obviously Utah was the first four years of my career. It’s a special place for me. Kind of jump started my career,” Kessler told reporters. “A lot of good memories, but definitely just let my emotions get the best of me and kind of hype myself up more than I usually do and kind of got too amped and then just couldn’t find the ball. Couldn’t find the rhythm. Just kind of was off.” It sounds like he was just way too hyped to be back, and it threw his whole game off. He even mentioned missing blocks he usually gets to, and picking up some tough fouls. It happens, but man, what an off night.
Star Power Took Over to Save the Day
Fortunately for Kessler and the Lakers, basketball isn’t a one-man show, and his teammates *stepped up big time*. Luka Dončić was an absolute scoring machine, pouring in 52 points on 17-of-30 shooting, adding 10 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. That’s an MVP-level stat line, folks! Austin Reaves continued his strong start to the year, chipping in 29 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with four assists, two blocks, and one steal. And don’t sleep on Matisse Thybulle, who hit three shots from beyond the arc for 11 points, plus three steals and a block. These guys basically carried the load while Kessler battled his own head. Kessler himself knew it, saying, “I’m glad we got the win tonight. I’ve got a lot of thanks to give to my teammates. All of them. They all played their roles and did a great job even though it wasn’t my best night.” That’s the sign of a good teammate, acknowledging his struggles and giving props where they’re due.
Undefeated and Looking Ahead
Despite Kessler’s off night, the Lakers got the W, and that’s all that matters in the end. They’re still undefeated, a huge start to the season. Kessler will have a chance to bounce back Tuesday night at 8 p.m. when Los Angeles hosts the Portland Trail Blazers. That’s another clash between two undefeated teams. You know Kessler will be looking to put this one behind him and get back to that dominant form we saw in the first two games. Let’s see if he can channel that emotion into a monster performance instead of a frustrating one. This undefeated streak is on the line!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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