What we learned as Domas, Huerter Power Kings’ big win over Jazz originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Domantas Sabonis scored his 21st^st Double-double in 25 games this season, and the Kings got great play off the bench from Kevin Huerter as Sacramento cruised to a 141-97 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday at the Golden 1 Center.

Sabonis, the NBA leader in double-doubles with 77 players last season, is back. He had 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with six assists as Sacramento defeated Utah for the third time in three games this season.

Huerter had the night Kings fans had been hoping for since he was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade more than two years ago. He scored a season-high 26 points and made six 3-pointers, giving him a plus-35 mark.

De’Aaron Fox had 21 points and nine assists, DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points and Malik Monk added 16 to help the Kings to their third win in four games after losing six of seven. Doug McDermott came off the bench and scored a season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter.

The Kings (12-13) led the way throughout, leading by 44 points at one point, a good springboard for what lies ahead.

Sacramento now faces one of its toughest parts of the schedule – a four-game stretch against the New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.

Huerter hit four of his first five shots in the first quarter to get the Kings rolling. After being slowed down early by the Jazz, Sabonis and Sacramento found a good rhythm in the second quarter as the Kings held a 17-point halftime lead.

Sabonis stayed hot at halftime and had 12 points, while the Kings scored 40 points in the third quarter and pulled away.

Here are the takeaways from Sunday’s game:

RThe red-hot Huerter bakes Jazz defense

Huerter came out brilliantly and gave the Kings’ offense a decisive boost, which had been mediocre until he checked in.

While Sacramento struggled to establish anything in the paint, Huerter provided the perfect remedy with steady outside shooting. The veteran guard made four of his 3-pointers in the first half, matching his total against the Spurs two nights earlier.

Utah had to give credit to Huerter’s hot hand, which further opened things up the middle for Sabonis and others.

Huerter showed some athleticism in the third quarter when he took a pass from Fox and did a powerful one-handed dunk.

DGrandmas goes outside to get the game going inside

Sabonis struggled early to get anything going against Utah’s towers of 7-foot center Lauri Markkanen and 7-1 reliever Walker Kessler, who repeatedly denied the Kings the ball as they tried to move the ball inside to force.

Sabonis switched and moved to the 3-point line, where he set good screens and kept the ball moving. That took the Jazz big men out of the role and gave Sacramento the opportunity to go a little easier.

Sabonis made two 3-pointers and finally got inside, completing 8 of 13 shots.

Shide it behind the arch

The Kings’ 3-point defense has been a stumbling block through the first six weeks of the 2023-24 season, but over the last four games they have done a fantastic job of preventing opponents from feasting from the perimeter.

Utah finished 15 of 42 (35.7 percent) from behind. This came after the Kings held the Houston Rockets (35.9 percent), Memphis Grizzlies (34.2 percent) and San Antonio Spurs (34.1 percent) at bay from outside.