Utah @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2019 ) Sacramento 81, Utah 113

Mike Conley is fresh off his best game since joining Utah and he looks to follow up the performance when the Jazz visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Conley busted out with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting in Wednesday's 110-96 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers after being just 9-of-45 from the field in his first four games with the Jazz.

Conley opened his Utah tenure with a 1-of-16 effort against Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 23 and he missed all seven of his attempts against the Phoenix Suns earlier this week as he put up enough bricks to build an apartment complex. "My teammates supported me. They know how hard I work and how much time I put into the game," Conley said after making five 3-pointers against the Clippers. "I wanted to put on a better show for the fans the first few games but hopefully, this is going to continue to build in a positive direction for myself and the team and we'll keep getting better." Sacramento dropped each of its first five games - including a 113-81 road loss against the Jazz last Sunday - and is off to its worst start since losing the first seven games of the 1990-91 campaign. "It's important for our group right now that we really stick together," first-year coach Luke Walton said after Wednesday's 118-111 loss to the visiting Charlotte Hornets. "I hope they can see that, even though we haven't found a way to win a game, the work they are putting in is going to lead us to win at a consistent level."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE JAZZ (4-1): Utah is thriving on the defensive end while allowing 92.4 points per game and has to yet allow more than 96 points. "We're working at it," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said of the defensive intensity. "Our guys take pride in the defensive end. It is going to get harder and we have to keep getting better." Utah held Sacramento to 37 percent from the field, including 7-of-26 from 3-point range, in last weekend's drubbing.

ABOUT THE KINGS (0-5): Sacramento led by as many as 14 points before succumbing against Charlotte and the home fans let loose with a raucous chorus of jeers once it was clear another loss was about to occur. "I know the fans are frustrated right now. They're booing us and everything," shooting guard Buddy Hield said afterward. "I know when we get this thing rolling, they'll be passionate. We have to get a win and once we get that win, we'll get rolling. Winning is hard in this league and there are no excuses." Hield made seven 3-pointers while scoring 23 points against the Hornets after averaging four points on 3-of-20 shooting over the previous two contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Jazz won nine of the last 10 meetings.

2. Utah F Bojan Bogdanovic scored 26 points in the recent meeting with the Kings and is averaging 21.3 points.

3. Sacramento F Richaun Holmes is averaging 20.5 points on 18-of-24 shooting, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots over the past two games.

PREDICTION: Jazz 103, Kings 94