Walker Kessler had looked forward to competing against his former team. After his first trip back to Utah with the Los Angeles Lakers, he acknowledged that handling the occasion proved difficult.

Kessler finished with two points, seven rebounds and one block in the Lakers’ 132-123 win over the Jazz on Sunday at Delta Center.

The victory gave L.A. a 3-0 start. For Kessler, it also provided a chance to assess how he responded to a game that carried personal significance.

“Going into the game, I definitely let my emotions get the best of me. You got to learn in those moments and move on. I'm glad we got the win tonight,” Kessler said in his postgame interview with Spectrum SportsNet.

His assessment was direct. He did not dismiss the emotions surrounding his return, but he recognized the need to handle them more effectively.

Before the matchup, Kessler spoke enthusiastically about facing the Jazz and coach Will Hardy.

He expected a competitive game and expressed excitement about going against players he knew from his time in Utah.

That familiarity gave the night a different feel from an ordinary road appearance. Returning to a former home brings recognizable surroundings and relationships, even as the assignment changes to helping another team win.

Kessler’s postgame comments showed the difference between anticipating that experience and playing through it.

He did not specify which possessions were affected by his emotions. His remarks also do not establish that emotion alone explained his statistical production.

What he did make clear was that he felt the occasion influenced his approach, and he viewed that as something to learn from.

The Lakers needed to recover from their own difficult opening. Utah scored 47 first-quarter points and built an 18-point lead before L.A. fought back.

Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves supplied most of the Lakers’ scoring response.

Dončić finished with 52 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Reaves added 29 points. Reaves scored 15 in the second quarter as the Lakers answered Utah’s opening surge with a 45-point period.

Their combined 81 points helped L.A. overcome a night when Kessler contributed relatively little scoring.

That is part of the adjustment for a center whose responsibilities extend beyond finishing possessions. Rebounding, protecting the basket and helping organize the defense remain important even when offensive opportunities are limited.

Kessler collected seven rebounds and blocked a shot, although the Lakers’ defensive struggles left the team with plenty to review.

His return ultimately ended with the result he wanted, even if his individual performance did not match his expectations.

There will be other meetings with Utah, but the first visit back is now behind him. Kessler’s immediate takeaway was straightforward: recognize what happened, learn from it and carry that experience into the next game.