Former Auburn first-rounders [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] squared off for the first time as NBA Western Conference rivals for the first time in their young careers on Monday night.
Smith shot 60% from the field on his way to a 21-point outing as his Houston Rockets squad took down Kessler’s Utah Jazz, 114-108 at Toyota Center in Houston.
These two met again on the court on Wednesday, this time in Salt Lake City. The home-standing Jazz was able to get revenge on the Rockets by earning the 109-101 win in front of the home crowd at Vivint Center.
Kessler, who recorded four fouls in eight minutes of Monday’s loss, scored four points in the win all from the free-throw line. Smith was limited to just 10 points in 32 minutes of action, shooting just 3-of-10 from the field.
Kessler and Smith will meet on the hardwood one final time during the 2022-23 NBA season, that meeting will take place on Jan. 5 at Toyota Center in Houston.
[mm-video type=video id=01gfnrn1n3n3t4j9vw0j playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gfnrn1n3n3t4j9vw0j/01gfnrn1n3n3t4j9vw0j-e667f3ffd1adf924e0c67deb2c4291a4.jpg]
[listicle id=55610]