Lauri Markkanen Goes Coast-To-Coast For The Slam Against Thunder
Jan 22, 2025, 8:07 PM | Updated: Jan 23, 2025, 1:08 pm
SALT LAKE CITY- Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz are giving the Oklahoma City Thunder, the owners of the best record in the NBA, everything they can handle as the two teams are tied late in the third quarter.
Leading the march for the Jazz is their seven-foot superstar power forward Lauri Markkanen who currently leads the team with 17 points.
He added a highlight reel-worthy run just past the midway point in the third quarter, weaving his way through four Thunder defenders on the way to the bucket.
It started when OKC’s Jalen Williams passed Kyle Filipowski off the dribble and then elevated toward the bucket. It looked like Williams wanted to put Walker Kessler on a poster, but he lost control of the ball on the way up, allowing Lauri Markkanen to secure the rebound.
Lauri turned up the court and hit another gear as he streaked past half-court. He blew past two Oklahoma City defenders at the three-point line and then rose above two more, throwing down the powerful slam to put the Jazz up 75-74.
from Vaasa to Helsinki with 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 😈🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/USt44mf0XB
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 23, 2025
Markkanen, Collins Back For Jazz Against Thunder
The Jazz will welcome Lauri Markkanen and John Collins back to the lineup when they travel to Oklahoma City.
Markkanen has missed four straight games as he continues to deal with back spasms, while Collins has missed 13 of the last 14 games due to personal reasons and a hip injury.
Collin Sexton will also return to the lineup after missing Monday’s loss due to rest.
The @utahjazz injury report against the @okcthunder:
IN – John Collins
IN – Lauri Markkanen
OUT – Brice Sensabaugh (ankle)
OUT – Jordan Clarkson (foot)
OUT – Taylor Hendricks (leg)
OUT – Johnny Juzang (hand)
OUT – Cody Williams (ankle)
OUT – Micah Potter (G League)#takenote— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 22, 2025
Related: Why Did Jazz Trade Three First Round Picks For One Suns Pick?
Markkanen, Sexton, and Collins are the team’s top-three leading scorers and haven’t shared the floor since January 4 when the Jazz beat the Miami Heat on the road 136-100.
The Thunder meanwhile have won 20 of their last 22 games, and own the best record in the Western Conference.
The Jazz will wrap up their four-game road trip in Memphis on Saturday after facing the Thunder.
Utah Jazz Injury Report
OUT – Jordan Clarkson (foot)
OUT – Brice Sensabaugh (ankle)
OUT – Cody Williams (ankle)
OUT – Taylor Hendricks (foot)
OUT – Micah Potter (G League)
OUT – Johnny Juzang (hand)
Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report
QUESTIONABLE – Jalen Williams (illness)
OUT – Isaiah Hartenstein (calf)
OUT – Chet Holmgren (hip)
OUT – Ajay Mitchell (toe)
OUT – Nikola Topic (knee)
