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 It showed in the result.
The Jazz rolled to their biggest victory since March, blasting the
Kings 122-101 as veteran forward Richard Jefferson scored a
team-high 20 points to lead five Utah players in double figures.
Utah built its biggest lead in any game this season, shot 53.9
percent from the field and canned 13 of 23 3-pointers, also a season
best.
To a man, the Jazz pointed to the return of center Derrick Favors
and forward Marvin Williams. Williams missed the previous four games
with an inflamed right foot, and Favors sat out the previous two
because of a sore lower back.
"That was really run, especially the way we shared the ball," guard
Gordon Hayward, who matched Favors with 17 points, said of the easy
win. "Marvin coming back, it really allowed us to space the floor
for us offensively. That makes an offense really difficult to
guard."
Utah guard Alec Burks added 17 points, and Williams finished with
eight points, five assists and four rebounds.
The Jazz (5-19) built a 28-point lead in the second half.
"We need all of our pieces, and we haven't had all our guys for long
stretches," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. "As we get healthy, we're
trying to build some game chemistry, and you saw that. ... We shared
the ball, and guys counted on each other to make the next play. Our
execution was consistent."
The Kings, playing short-handed for the second straight contest,
never led. Center DeMarcus Cousins, who played only seven minutes in
the first half, scored 21 points, and point guard Isaiah Thomas had
20 for Sacramento (6-14).
"It's extremely frustrating," said Cousins, who had 32 points and 19
rebounds two nights earlier in Sacramento's 112-97 win over the
Mavericks, a game the Kings also played with only 10 players suited
up. "You take a step forward like we did against Dallas, and then
come back in this one, it's like we're a totally different team. ...
"We should have carried the momentum over. Instead, we did just the
opposite."
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The game was expected to mark the Sacramento debut of
forwards Rudy Gay and Quincy Acy and center Aaron Gray, all
three of whom were acquired from the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
However, guard Greivis Vasquez, who was dealt to the Raptors
along with forwards Patrick Patterson and John Salmons and
center Chuck Hayes, didn't arrive in Toronto until late
Wednesday, delaying his physical and his debut.
None of the seven players involved in the trade can play until
all pass a physical. The debut of the Kings' new trio is now
expected to take place Friday at Phoenix.
"No excuses," Cousins said. "The roster is the roster."
Cousins picked up two fouls by the 4:44 mark of the opening
quarter and didn't play the remainder of the first half. Until
the game was out of reach, he was mostly ineffective, and he
also picked up his NBA-leading sixth technical foul early in the
third quarter.
Thomas, starting at point guard for the second straight game
after playing the first 18 off the bench, had seven assists but
also five turnovers. Forward Derrick Williams, who scored a
career-high 31 against Dallas, was held to 13 points by Utah.
"I thought our energy and effort were very flat, starting from
the jump ball," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "We didn't do
anything tonight."
NOTES: Jazz assistant coach Sidney Lowe pleaded guilty to tax
evasion charges in North Carolina earlier Wednesday but was on
the sideline in the second half. Lowe received a suspended
45-day jail sentence for not filing between 2009-11, was placed
on 36 months of suspended probation and must complete 100 hours
of community service. He also must pay a $79,000 in restitution
and a $2,000 fine. ... The contest marked the first of a stretch
in which the Jazz will play seven of eight on the road. The
Kings concluded a stretch of playing six of seven and 14 of
their first 20 at home. They will play five of their next six
away from Sacramento. ... Kings G Jimmer Fredette scored four
points off the bench, and G Ray McCallum was scoreless in three
minutes. They are competing for the backup point guard spot
after G Greivis Vasquez was dealt to Toronto on Sunday.
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