SALT LAKE CITY — Jefferson Diaz scored the decisive goal in a 5-4 shootout after Minnesota and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless draw in regulation, and United beat RSL in the first game of a best-of-three series on Tuesday night.

It marked Minnesota’s first MLS Cup playoff win via a penalty kick shootout in club history. United can clinch a spot in the Western Conference semifinals with another victory over RSL on Saturday.

Diaz sent RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath the wrong way in the sixth round and then Braian Ojeda had a shot deflect off the crossbar.

Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair secured his eighth clean sheet of the season.

MacMath dove to his left to deny Minnesota defender Michael Boxall in the third round of penalty kicks, but RSL defender Justen Glad followed with a shot that sailed the crossbar to keep it even at 2.

MacMath guessed correctly in the fourth round, but Jeong Sang-Bin’s shot went under him into the back of the net.

RSL’s last home playoff loss occurred in 2019 against Seattle.

Jazz drop to 0-4 after loss to Sacramento

SALT LAKE CITY — Domantas Sabonis had 28 points and 11 rebounds, De’Aaron Fox added 19 points and the Sacramento Kings dominated the reeling Utah Jazz 113-96 on Tuesday night.

Jordan Clarkson scored 21 points and John Collins tallied 18 for the Jazz, who opened the season with four straight defeats and lost starting forwards Taylor Hendricks (broken leg) and Lauri Markkanen (back spasms) on back-to-back nights.

The Jazz have lost their last two home games by a combined 58 points. Rookie Kyle Filipowski got his first extended playing time and scored 12 points.

DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and eight assists for the Kings, who have won two straight after starting 0-2. Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray each scored 14 for the Kings, who led by as many 27 points.

The Kings shot just 25.8% from 3-point range but hit 65.6% inside the arc. They are moving the ball and seeing open shots, especially in the midrange.

Without defensive stopper Hendricks, who was lost for the season with a gruesome broken leg and dislocated ankle on Monday, Utah struggled with Sacramento’s dribble penetration and crisp passing while often having three or four rookies and second-year players on the floor.

Markkanen didn’t come back out for the second half because of back soreness and the Kings broke open the game. Behind Fox’s 10 points, they outscored the Jazz 29-14 in the third quarter, including a 14-2 run to end the period.

DeRozan had his fourth straight game with at least 20 points to begin his time with the Kings. Only Chris Webber (seven games, Feb. 5-17, 1999) and Oscar Robertson (six games, Oct. 19-27, 1960) have had longer streaks to start their tenures with the franchise.

The Kings visit Atlanta on Friday and the Jazz host San Antonio on Thursday.