Markkanen Scores 43, Jazz Down Thunder In Overtime
Feb 23, 2023, 9:42 PM | Updated: Feb 24, 2023, 10:10 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz survived the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 120-119 win in overtime behind a brilliant performance from Lauri Markkanen.
The All-Star forward scored 43 points to lead the Jazz while Walker Kessler added seven points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocks.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points to lead the Thunder but missed the potential game-winner at the buzzer.
First Quarter
The Jazz jumped out to an early 14-9 start as all five starters got on the board in the opening five minutes.
Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with eight points while Walker Kessler added five points and made his first career three-pointer.
WALK3R 👀#KiaSkills champ @WalkerKessler13 buries his first career triple. 🏀 💦#TakeNote #OKCvsUTA https://t.co/7F4PnCXf1Z
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2023
The Thunder capitalized on the Jazz makeshift bench and kept the game close behind 12 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After one the Jazz led the Thunders 28-26.
Second Quarter
Both teams started the second quarter slowly, combing for just 19 points over the first six minutes of the frame.
Jazz coach Will Hardy was already playing an extended roster with 11 different players seeing the floor before Rudy Gay left the game with a broken nose.
Rudy Gay suffers nasal fracture against Thunder#TakeNotehttps://t.co/fmMUtNkCdN
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2023
The Jazz managed just 18 points in the quarter while giving up 29 to the Thunder.
At the half, the Jazz trailed the Thunder 55-46.
Third Quarter
The Jazz responded well in the third quarter opening the second half on a 20-13 run, and limiting the Thunder’s easy looks at the rim.
Kessler blocked six shots as the Jazz held OKC below 40 percent shooting from the floor in the opening 36 minutes.
☕️☕️☕️ @youngoch#TakeNote #OKCvsUTA https://t.co/fbx5ONq9Gt
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2023
The Thunder closed the quarter well as Gilgeous-Alexander upped his scored total to 31 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists.
After three the Jazz trailed the Thunder 86-78.
Fourth Quarter
Markkanen carried the Jazz in the fourth quarter attacking the Thunder at the rim for easy finishes
The Finnish forward went on a one-man nine-point scoring run as the Jazz tied the game at 95 with 4:20 left in the game.
Lauri Markkanen poster ‼️
He's scored 9 straight to cut the OKC lead to 4.
WATCH: https://t.co/0rrSPxOHD0 pic.twitter.com/lqcyvxN7qL
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2023
Kenrich Williams answered with a 5-0 of his own, but the Jazz again tied the game at 100.
Kessler put back a Markkanen miss to tie the game at 106 with four seconds left to play, then blocked the potential game-winner to send the game to overtime.
Overtime
Markkanen upped his scoring total to 40 in overtime, while Gilgeous-Alexander brought his total to 39.
Kessler missed two free throws in the final minute, and the Thunder upped their lead to three with 32 seconds left to play.
However, with the Jazz trailing by two, Lu Dort fouled Markkanen on a three-point attempt with 4.6 seconds left to play.
Markkanen made all three free throws to give the Jazz a 120-119 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-winner rimmed out and the Jazz escaped with the win.
