Utah Jazz ahead Jarred Vanderbilt (8) goes excessive for a rebound because the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets play at Vivint Area on opening night time in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
The Utah Jazz, surprisingly, unexpectedly, and in fairly convincing trend, beat the Denver Nuggets, 123-102, on Wednesday night time within the season opener at Vivint Area.
There’s so much to get to, so let’s leap proper in.
A lot good basketball
The Jazz had seven gamers rating in double figures. Earlier than the bench cleared within the remaining minute of the sport, each participant on the Jazz had recorded at the very least one help. The ball was transferring, the screens had been deliberate and well-timed, and the scoring was electrical. The Jazz shot 50.6% general and 42.1% from 3-point vary.
There have been spotlight performs from the vets, the rookies, the newcomers and everybody in between. The Jazz led by as many as 24 factors and gave a number of effort on the defensive finish. Even when their lead dwindled and was at risk, the Jazz saved a very gifted Denver crew in examine and held on with authority.
“It’s a very good crew win,” head coach Will Hardy stated. “On the defensive finish, our physicality and tenacity, form of sparked by Jarred Vanderbilt early within the sport, was actually infectious all through our group. Denver is a very good crew. They threw a giant punch within the second half to get again within the sport… Our guys simply caught collectively.”
Jarred Vanderbilt
Clearly the Jazz’s new hybrid-center was holding again within the preseason, which we must always have identified as a result of we noticed what he may do when he was in Minnesota. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone warned about Vanderbilt’s prowess earlier than the sport even began.
“Vando crushed us final 12 months,” Malone stated. “We misplaced 3 times to Minnesota and his relentless power was very impactful for the T-Wolves. I’m positive he’s gonna do the identical factor for Utah now that he’s right here.”
Vanderbilt racked up 12 rebounds in 11 minutes, 36 seconds within the first half towards Denver on Wednesday. He was squeezing by means of gamers, swiping in lanes, and giving the Jazz second-chances left and proper.
“You may simply inform how exhausting he performs, like when he’s on the market you'll be able to really feel his power and likewise how dangerous he desires it,” Collin Sexton stated of Vanderbilt. “That’s what’s going to assist drive us every day.”
Now, Vanderbilt did foul out of the sport halfway by means of the fourth quarter and his foul bother saved him off the court docket greater than Hardy in all probability would have preferred. However that form of power was infectious and led to some nice play from rookie Walker Kessler.
Walker Kessler
A double-double in his NBA debut going towards the two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is just not a nasty solution to begin a profession. Kessler talks so much about studying from the veterans on the crew and it’s not simply the large guys.
Positive, Kessler is getting a ton of knowledge handed down from Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk, however he’s additionally gaining a number of helpful data and expertise from and with Mike Conley.
“Enjoying with Mike within the pick-and-roll is like the simplest factor I’ve ever carried out in my life,” Kessler stated shaking his head. “I imply, he’s so — the way in which he’s affected person with it and he holds off his man. It’s helped me a lot. And he exhibits me how you can maintain a sure angle of the display, how you can assist him, how you can get different guys open. I imply, everybody on my crew has been unbelievably supportive.”
Kessler did a number of nice stuff on Wednesday. He has nice really feel across the rim and he makes use of each little bit of his size and power and he even confirmed off some artful footwork, together with this reverse layup, which is a transfer that felt extra like Conley than a rookie heart, however was wonderful nonetheless.
Collin Sexton
Hardy calls Collin Sexton a ‘maniac’ and repeatedly has talked about how robust he has performed throughout practices. Sexton put all of that on show towards the Nuggets, scoring 12 of his team-high 20 factors within the second half and saving his greatest for final.
Sexton scored six factors within the remaining 4 minutes of the sport and importantly drew a cost on Jokic at a pivotal second. He’s going to be a participant that the Jazz are going to like watching when he will get scorching and begins to see purple.
“You guys can see that fireside that he has, particularly on the finish of the sport. He made some large performs,” Hardy stated. “His work ethic is without doubt one of the greatest that I’ve come throughout in my time within the NBA. Actually completely satisfied for Collin in his first sport right here in entrance of the house crowd and that he was capable of make some large performs down the stretch.”