Agbaji scores 27, Jazz hold off Kings for 128-120 victory

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ochai Agbaji scored acareer-high 27 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the UtahJazz to a 128-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Mondaynight.

Kelly Olynyk had 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists forthe Jazz. Kris Dunn added 18 points and a season-high 10 assists.Udoka Azubuike chipped in with a career-high 13 points and aseason-best eight rebounds.

Eight players scored in double figures for the Jazz, who shot52% from the field.

Agbaji’s offensive outburst underscored the progress he’s madefrom earlier in his rookie season when he had stints in the GLeague.

“I kind of saw that as my own race, starting there,” Agbajisaid. “My expectations were a little bit different coming in, butstarting there, I had to be fine with it, had to go with it, had togive it my all and have a positive attitude while I was doingit.”

De’Aaron Fox had 37 points and seven assists to lead Sacramento.Keegan Murray added 22 points for the Kings. Fox and Murraycombined to make 12 3-pointers.

Harrison Barnes scored 16 for Sacramento, and Malik Monk added15.

Olynyk put the Jazz ahead for good on a 3-pointer with 1:34 leftto break a 118-all tie. Dunn, Agbaji, Walker Kessler and Olynykcombined to make seven free throws in the final minute to seal thevictory.

Sacramento trailed by double digits throughout the first halfbefore erasing the deficit during the third quarter. Fox and Murrayled the charge, combining for 33 points in the period.

Fox scored five baskets to fuel a 19-5 run that cut Utah’s leadto 76-74 midway through the quarter. The Kings tied it three timeson 3-pointers from Monk, Murray and Fox but did not go in frontuntil early in the fourth quarter.

Chimezie Metu completed a 3-point play to give Sacramento itsfirst lead at 100-98 with 9:15 remaining.

“You can’t trick a trick defense,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.“You’ve just got to just run your stuff. If you run your stuff,somebody’s going to get an open shot.”

Playing without the team’s top three scorers — Lauri Markkanen,Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton — did not slow down Utah’soffense in the first quarter.

The Jazz shot 60% from the field and made five 3-pointers tobuild a 40-19 lead by the end of the period. Utah showed offensivebalance while coasting to a double-digit advantage. Five playersscored two or more baskets in the quarter. Olynyk and Agbaji ledthe way with three apiece.

“We lost this game in the first quarter,” Fox said. “We shotourselves in the foot. Obviously we fought back, but you don’t wantto be in that type of position.”

Utah did not cool down much through the second quarter. The Jazzextended their lead to 24 before halftime, going up 59-35 whenOlynyk capped a 7-0 run with a corner 3.

“We were able to use our pace. It’s been a huge emphasis for ussince the trade deadline to try to play faster,” Jazz coach WillHardy said. “We fed off our defense. We did a good job of gettingstops and it allowed us to get out and run.”

BLOCK PARTY

Kessler blocked five shots for the 10th time this season. Nonewere more clutch than his final swat on a layup attempt by DomantasSabonis with 1:20 remaining that would have cut the deficit to one.Kessler secured the rebound, and the Kings never got a chance todraw closer.

“A lot of teams want to attack inside in the last moments justbecause you’re trying to foul,” Kessler said. “I happened to bethere. I liked my chances to block the shot.”

TIP-INS

Kings: Sabonis led the Kings in rebounds (12) and assists (nine)and finished with 11 points. … Sacramento scored zero fast-breakpoints in the first half.

Jazz: Simone Fontecchio made his second career start in place ofMarkkanen, who sat out with back soreness. Fontecchio finished with12 points. … Utah allowed a season-high 43 points in the thirdquarter.

UP NEXT

Kings: Host Boston on Tuesday night.

Jazz: Host Portland on Wednesday night.