Lauri Markkanen Gets Jazz On Scoreboard With Back-To-Back Dunks On Bulls
Jan 7, 2023, 6:30 PM | Updated: 10:23 pm
Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a dunk against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center on January 07, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen his team on the scoreboard with a pair of slam dunks after Utah’s slow start against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls hosted the Jazz at United Center in Chicago on Saturday, January 7.
After the Jazz began the contest shooting 0-7, Markkanen scored Utah’s first points of the night on a driving dunk with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter.
17 seconds later, the Finnish forward threw down another jam to cut Chicago’s lead to 8-4.
like he was shot out that Mar-Cannon 💥
(😏 @nba_paint)#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/xYFUXsjSMV
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2023
During his first seven minutes of action, the Arizona product had six points on 3-5 field goals. He added one rebounds, one assist, and two steals during his first stretch of playing time against his old team.
Markkanen spent the first four seasons of his NBA career in Chicago. He was traded by the Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the 2021-22 season. Markkanen was traded to Utah ahead of this season.
Lauri Mar-Cannon. pic.twitter.com/sRtqdZdnhi
— nba paint (@nba_paint) January 6, 2023
This season, Markkanen is averaging 24.5 points per contest on 53.0 percent shooting, including 42.2 percent from beyond the arc. He’s also averaged 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.6 steals during his first 38 games played with the Jazz.
by golly, this man needs to be an all-star
VOTE 🌟 https://t.co/X4WJXzIrma#TakeNote | @markkanenlauri pic.twitter.com/P24yOvxiSY
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2023
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Utah’s game against Chicago is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
Jazz vs. Bulls
The Utah Jazz will face a difficult midwest double-header this weekend when they face the Bulls and the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Jazz are coming off a much-needed 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets in which forward Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 49 points.
At the midway point of the season, the Jazz sit at 20-21 and in the 10th seed in the West.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz continue their road trip against the @chicagobulls on the @KSLSportsZone and https://t.co/4kU961UAvR.#TakeNote https://t.co/yrF2iJAqaq pic.twitter.com/nox0rmsY8O
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2023
Bulls Amid Best Stretch Of The Season
The Bulls have had a disappointing first half of the season sitting at 17-21 on the season and in the 10th seed in the East.
However, they’ve won six of their last nine games including a win Wednesday night over the Brooklyn Nets.
RELATED: Markkanen Career-High 49 Points Snaps Jazz Losing Streak
In addition to the Nets, the Bulls have wins over the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks in their last nine outings.
The Bulls will face the Philadelphia 76ers on the road Friday on the front end of a back-to-back before hosting the Jazz on Saturday evening.
Over the last nine games the Bulls own the ninth-best offensive rating in the NBA and the 22nd-ranked defensive rating.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 28.8 points per game during the stretch while Zach LaVine is adding 24.3 per contest.
