THE Utah Jazz could not assist however add to its dropping streak in Tuesday evening’s matchup towards Los Angeles Lakersas they fell quick 118-124 to drop their third straight recreation and fall to 0-2 within the NBA Cup group stage.
In the end, it was an enormous evening for Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, who completed the sport with a game-high 37 factors, because of an impressive taking pictures efficiency from past the arc – totaling 9-12 from deep (seven within the second half) in addition to 5 rebounds and a steal.
In simply his fourth profession begin, Knecht has already confirmed himself greater than worthy of his seventeenth total choice on this summer season’s draft, additionally garnering appreciable respect from teammate LeBron James within the course of.
After the win towards Utah, LeBron saved issues sincere when requested by a reporter what he noticed in Knecht earlier than the Lakers chosen him on this summer season’s draft:
“I do not know. Identical shit I stated final yr,” James stated. “Everybody on the Web is looking me a liar. What am I now? I have been instructed…I watched loads of Tennessee. I did not suppose [Dalton Knecht] was going to fall on us… I don’t know the way it occurred however I’m very grateful and really completely happy that he’s right here… [The front office] I could not discover DK…the opposite 16 groups blew it.”
LeBron James on Lakers entrance workplace drafting Dalton Knecht: ‘They could not discover DK…the opposite 16 groups screwed it up’ pic.twitter.com/agmO547mnW
– Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 20, 2024
Knecht began his rookie season off to a robust begin, averaging 11.3 factors, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists on a formidable 46.4% three-point taking pictures fee. An electrical evening towards the Jazz helped increase these numbers considerably, and he might be on monitor to maintain them up after Tuesday evening’s efficiency.
Throughout this summer season, the Jazz had the chance to pick out Knecht with their tenth total decide, even having just a few declared curiosity within the Tennessee product main into the draft. As a substitute, Danny Ainge and Co. opted to roll with Colorado’s Cody Williams — a choice that would hang-out Utah for years to return, relying on how the subsequent few years play out.
The Jazz can have two extra probabilities to defeat Knecht, LeBron and the Lakers later this season, with their subsequent assembly scheduled in just below two weeks, on Dec. 1, this time on Utah’s dwelling court docket on the Delta Middle.
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