Lauri Markkanen Gets Off To Quick Start Against Lakers In Delta Center
Jan 13, 2024, 8:15 PM
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) celebrates after a put back shot and foul as the Jazz and the New Zealand Breakers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Lauri Markkanen led the way for the Utah Jazz in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
He posted 10 points on 3/4 shooting with two made threes.
no better time to vote for #NBAAllStar than right now!
🌟 https://t.co/Vvym3DbyQN pic.twitter.com/ztq8NuLhOQ
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 14, 2024
Despite not posting any other stats, there was nothing Utah needed more than some offensive production.
Other than John Collins, no Jazzman posted more than four points.
Two Lakers, D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, put up 12 in the opening quarter.
🛸 flying in for the finnish 🛸 pic.twitter.com/5BLje94qvl
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 14, 2024
With LeBron James sitting out, the Jazz shifted their defensive focus to Anthony Davis.
They did a good job on the All-NBA big man too. Davis had just five points on 1/3 from the field and two turnovers in his first 12 minutes.
let’s watch that one again 🍿 https://t.co/3CM4r2K7Yw pic.twitter.com/1In6kOx19J
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 14, 2024
Los Angeles led by eight going into the second, 39-31.
LeBron James Out As Jazz Host Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without LeBron James when they travel to face the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.
The Jazz will look to extend their season-best four-game win streak when they host the Lakers.
The @utahjazz could have packed in the season after their 7-16 start.
Instead, Will Hardy stuck to his guns.
“It’s noisy when things aren’t going well and everybody wants to tell you what they think you should do.”#TakeNote https://t.co/qYU8lG8mss
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 13, 2024
After starting the season 4-11 the Jazz are 16-9 in their last 25 games and have climbed to the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
Over their last 10 games the Jazz own the league’s sixth-best offensive rating and the fourth-best defensive rating.
With Friday’s win over the Raptors, the Jazz climbed a half-game above the Lakers in the Western Conference standings.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host for the Jazz Notes podcast and a Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerHoltKSL or on Threads @chandlerho1t.
