Enes Kanter’s NBA debut consisted of snatching 11 rebounds in 21 minutes during the Utah Jazz’s 96-71 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.
Kanter, who had not played in a real game in the United States since a high school game in 2010, made just one of seven shots from the floor. He did make three of four free throws and blocked a shot. He finished with five points.
Kanter was far from the only Jazz player to have a hard time finding the basket. Al Jefferson went two-for-16. C.J. Miles was 1-for-8. That added up to the Jazz’s second biggest opening game loss, in terms of margin, in franchise history.
Elsewhere, Rajon Rondo had 22 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in Boston’s loss at Miami. DeMarcus Cousins scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but hit just seven of 18 shots, in Sacramento’s loss at Portland. Chuck Hayes also had 11 rebounds, but just four points, for the Kings. (Tyreke Evans had just four points and five turnovers.)
