After resting Sunday against the Pelicans on the front end of a back-to-back set, Kessler is likely to be back in the starting lineup Monday. Kyle Filipowski started at center in Kessler's absence Sunday and played well, while Oscar Tshiebwe double-doubled off the bench in 20 minutes.

In his third season, Walker Kessler has established himself as one of the better centers in the NBA and has put himself in a position for a major raise either this upcoming off-season or the next.

According to Marc Stein, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers tried hard for Walker Kessler at the trade deadline. From Marc Stein’s substack: League sources say that the Knicks were right there with the Lakers in their determination before the trade deadline to try to convince Utah to engage in meaningful Walker Kessler trade talks.