Utah’s Sensabaugh scores 21 points in 1st quarter, highest for a bench player in at least 29 years

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CHICAGO (AP) — Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh scored 21 points off the bench in the first quarter Wednesday night in a 128-126 loss at Chicago, the most by an NBA reserve in the opening period in at least 29 years.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/01/2026 (270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHICAGO (AP) — Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh scored 21 points off the bench in the first quarter Wednesday night in a 128-126 loss at Chicago, the most by an NBA reserve in the opening period in at least 29 years.

It’s the highest number since the statistic was first tracked in the 1996-97 season.

Until Sensabaugh’s outburst, Indiana’s Lance Stephenson had the high for first-quarter scoring with 20 points against Brooklyn on Jan. 5, 2022. He finished that game with 30 points.

Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

The third-year player finished with a career-high 43 points over 34 mintues, making 15 of 22 shots and going 5 of 10 from 30-point range.

His previous career high was set Jan. 4 with 34 points at Miami. His second-best scoring game came the next day with 27 points at Orlando.

Sensabaugh scored 28 points in the first half against the Bulls, just two points shy of the Jazz record for a starter or reserve in the opening 24 minutes. Rodney Hood scored 30 points in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 28, 2016.

Karl Malone scored 37 points in the second half in a game against Golden State on April 7, 1998, for the team record for any half.

Sensabaugh made 8 of 9 shots in the first quarter, including all three 3-point shots. His scoring came in just 7:14 of playing time.

Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28), right, guards Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28), right, guards Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

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