Center Walker Kessler became the first Utah rookie with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game in the Jazz’s 126-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

In his 10th NBA start in his 44 games, the former Auburn standout had 20 points, 21 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. He became the first Utah player with nine offensive rebounds in a game this season.

Kessler tied his career scoring high and surpassed his rebound best of 16.

Utah won despite playing without Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz’s leading scorer and rebounder in the 2022-23 season.

“My teammates found me in the right spots,” Kessler said. “My teammates did a good job of keeping their guys off the glass. The coaching staff did a great job of game-planning. This was fun.”

Kessler became the ninth NBA player this season with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game. It’s been accomplished 14 times in the 2022-23 campaign.

Kessler is the first rookie with a 20/20 game since Gorgui Dieng had 22 points and 21 rebounds in Minnesota’s 129-106 loss to the Houston Rockets on March 20, 2014.

On Monday, Kessler made 9-of-13 from the field and went 2-of-4 at the free-throw line. He produced the ninth 20/20 game in NBA history by a rookie that featured 13 or fewer shots.

The most recent 20/20 game in which the productive player shot no more than 13 times came on April 20, 1993, when Shaquille O’Neal had 20 points, 25 rebounds and 13 shots in the Orlando Magic’s 105-86 victory over the Washington Bullets.

Only three other rookies have had 20/20 games with 13 or fewer shots. Wes Unseld did it three times for the Baltimore Bullets in 1968-69, Jerry Lucas did it twice for the Cincinnati Royals in 1963-64 and Greg Anderson did it once for the San Antonio Spurs in 1987-88. O’Neal also had two such games for the Magic in 1992-93.

All of those players were on the court for at least 37 minutes. Kessler got his stats in 31:03 of playing time.

The previous seven 20/20 games for the Jazz had been produced by Rudy Gobert, who was traded by Utah to Minnesota in a deal involving Kessler. Gobert played in Monday’s game, but he left the contest early because of a groin injury.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.