Lauri Markkanen Buries Three-Pointer For First Points Of Nets-Jazz Game
Jan 20, 2023, 7:48 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen drilled a three-pointer for his first points of Utah’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Jazz hosted the Nets at Vivint Arena on Friday, January 20.
With 1:49 to go in the opening quarter, Markkanen connected on a 23-footer to add three points to the box score.
The @utahjazz shot just 7-22 from the floor and 2-11 from three, but trail by only 6, 28-22 after one.
The @BrooklynNets were led by Royce O'Neale with 9 first quarter points. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/vNDZDq5RDt
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 21, 2023
Unfortunately for Utah, the quarter was a poor shooting performance by the Jazz.
At the end of the first quarter, the Jazz trailed the Nets, 28-22.
Markkanen had three points on 1-5 field goals, including 1-3 from downtown. He added four rebounds in eight minutes on the court.
This season, the Arizona product is averaging 24.8 points per contest on 52.1 percent shooting. He ranks 17th in the league in scoring. Markkanen also averages 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.6 steals in 34.2 minutes per game.
RELATED: Utah Jazz Honor Royce O’Neale With Tribute Video
Utah’s game against Brooklyn is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
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Nets vs. Jazz
Jazz Look For Rare Third Straight Win
The Jazz will look to win their third straight game for the first time since November 6-9 when they opened the season 10-3.
After Wednesday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Jazz sit in the sixth seed in the West a half-game ahead of the 7th-10th ranked teams in the conference.
Sitting at 24-24, the Jazz will look to push themselves above .500 for the first time since December 30th when they sat at 19-19 and in 10th in the West.
The Jazz will be without Kelly Olynyk for the sixth straight game with an ankle sprain.
Forward Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup on Wednesday with a 34-point, 12-rebound performance after a two-game absence due to a hip contusion.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz face the @BrooklynNets at Vivint Arena on https://t.co/4kU961UAvR and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/sqgh3LaJzu pic.twitter.com/xqZTuTDEG3
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 21, 2023
Royce O’Neale Returns To Jazz
O’Neale returns to Utah for the first time since the Jazz traded him to the Nets for a 2023 first-round pick short before free agency opened in July.
The forward had been a key starter for the Jazz over the last three seasons averaging 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from the three-point line.
RELATED: Royce O’Neale Returns, Jazz Look For Third Straight Win
O’Neale is averaging a career-high 9.2 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 39 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three.
The Nets’ four-game losing streak coincides with Kevin Durant’s MCL sprain which he suffered on January 8 against the Miami Heat.
