Lauri Markkanen Posterizes Nikola Vucevic With Massive Dunk During Jazz-Bulls Game
Jan 7, 2023, 7:55 PM | Updated: 10:21 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 put Nikola Vucevic on a poster with a massive slam dunk during Utah’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls hosted the Jazz at United Center in Chicago on Saturday, January 7.
With 2:33 to go in the third quarter, Talen Horton-Tucker dished the ball to a driving Markkanen, who threw down a big slam dunk over his former teammate.
The jam gave Utah a 78-73 lead.
Get this man into the #NBAAllStar game.
Lauri Markkanen with no respect for the Bulls defense. #TakeNote | @KSLSports pic.twitter.com/guxN9HhnnQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 8, 2023
At the end of the quarter, the Jazz owned an 89-84 advantage on the scoreboard. During his first 27 minutes on the hardwood, Markkanen had a team-high 24 points on 10-16 shooting, including 2-5 from three. He added two rebounds, three assists, and one steal while posting a plus-seven rating during his time on the court.
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.
LAURI MARKKANEN PUT THE CHICAGO TYPEWRITER IN VUCEVICS FACE!!!
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 8, 2023
RELATED STORIES
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.
