Walker Kessler led the Utah Jazz with 22 points and nine rebounds as the team dominated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-108 in Wednesday’s season opener at Delta Center.
Lauri Markkanen added 20 points, while Brice Sensabaugh contributed another 20 off the bench. Utah set a team record for points in a season opener, shooting 55% from the field and dishing 38 assists on 48 made baskets.
Kessler was perfect from the field in the first half, going 7 of 7, and also added four assists and four blocks. Keyonte George led the team with nine assists to go along with 16 points, while Taylor Hendricks returned from last season’s broken leg to score 13 points.
The Clippers struggled with cohesion in their first game, and new addition Bradley Beal scored only five points on a minutes restriction. Ivica Zubac led Los Angeles with 19 points and seven rebounds, while James Harden and Brook Lopez each added 15 points. Kawhi Leonard finished with 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting.
Utah jumped to a 78-47 halftime lead, shooting 71.8% from the floor. The Jazz made their first 19 shots in the paint, turning crisp ball movement into layups and dunks. They were perfect from two-point range in the first quarter, making all 12 attempts.
The Clippers, expected to compete in the Western Conference, faced their most lopsided season-opening loss in 17 years. Los Angeles cut the margin slightly in the third quarter, but Utah’s consistent shooting and defensive intensity kept the game out of reach.
Ace Bailey, the Jazz’s No. 5 pick in this year’s draft, was limited to 20 minutes due to illness and scored two points. Meanwhile, the Jazz displayed depth and chemistry, signaling strong potential for the 2025-26 season.
Utah will visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Clippers host the Phoenix Suns the same night.
