Markkanen Shines, Jazz Fall To Raptors In Preseason Debut
Oct 2, 2022, 6:22 PM | Updated: 6:23 pm
Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz hung with the Toronto Raptors for the opening 24 minutes of their preseason debut, but struggled in the second half and were blown out 114-82.
The first game of the new-look Jazz era was sure to bring surprises including first-year head coach Will Hardy starting Malik Beasley over Collin Sexton.
Beasley and Mike Conley made up the Jazz starting backcourt while Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Kelly Olynyk started in the frontcourt.
First Quarter
Markkanen provided the early offense for the Jazz scoring six points in the opening 12 minutes on 3-5 shooting to go with two rebounds.
Conley also added six points for the Jazz in eight minutes on 2-3 shooting from the three-point line.
.@MarkkanenLauri's midrange bucket got things going for the @utahjazz in Edmonton. 🏀 🇨🇦 #TakeNote #UTAvsTOR
https://t.co/254yThTsha— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 2, 2022
The Raptors were led by second-year forward Scottie Barnes who scored five points in nearly 10 minutes.
After one the Jazz and Raptors were knotted up at 22.
Second Quarter
Rookie Walker Kessler impressed in his first minutes on the roster scoring seven points on a perfect 3-3 shooting.
Markkanen continued his quick start with the Jazz scoring 11 points in the second quarter and finished with 17 points at the half.
Collin Sexton wasted no time making this highlight-reel sequence for the @utahjazz, despite coming off the bench in his first appearance. #TakeNote https://t.co/WduNNwGz7R
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 2, 2022
In total, 10 different Jazz players saw the floor in the opening 24 minutes against the Raptors.
At the half, the Jazz trailed Toronto 50-49.
Third Quarter
The Raptors opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run extending their lead to 60-49 before Markkanen canned a three to end the scoring drought.
Those were Markkanen’s only three points of the quarter who improved his scoring total to 20 through 36 minutes.
The Jazz were outscored 32-15 in the period and only four players on the roster scored on 6-24 shooting.
After three Toronto led Utah 82-64.
Fourth Quarter
The Raptors extended their lead over the Jazz early in the fourth quarter and Hardy went to the deep bench for the first time in the preseason.
Jared Butler, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Simone Fontecchio, and Cody Zeller all made their Jazz debuts to closeout the blowout loss.
.@MisterCBooz took a trip across the border to enjoy some @utahjazz basketball. 🎷 🏀 #TakeNote #UTAvsTOR https://t.co/DDA1tXNYXx
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 2, 2022
Markkanen led all scorers with 20 points while Kessler and Sexton added 11 points each.
The Jazz fell 114-82 to the Raptors in their preseason opener.
The Jazz are back in action on Tuesday in Portland as they face the Trail Blazers at 8 pm MT.
