Lauri Markkanen Opens Celtics-Jazz Game With Two-Handed Slam Dunk
Mar 18, 2023, 7:30 PM | Updated: 7:31 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen threw down an early slam dunk to get his team on the scoreboard during Utah’s game against the Boston Celtics.
The Jazz hosted the Celtics at Vivint Arena on Saturday, March 18.
With 10:27 remaining in the first quarter, Ochai Agbaji dished the ball off to Markkanen in the post with a nice bounce pass. The Finnish forward collected the pass while driving to the hoop for a two-handed slam dunk.
Markkanen’s jam cut Boston’s lead to 3-2.
finnish? he’s just getting started 😏 pic.twitter.com/WERQYby1YJ
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 19, 2023
Late in the quarter, Markkanen had two points on 1-2 field goals. He also had three rebounds in six minutes on the court.
This season, Markkanen is averaging 25.4 points per contest on 50.5 percent shooting. The Arizona product also averages 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.6 steals in 34.4 minutes per game.
Utah’s game against Boston is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
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Celtics vs. Jazz
The Utah Jazz will return to action on Saturday after a five-day hiatus against the Boston Celtics.
The Jazz last played in Miami on Monday night, concluding a marathon six-game road trip that spanned four states and five different teams.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are in the midst of their own six-game road trip with their penultimate stop coming in Salt Lake City.
Jazz Open Four-Game Homestand
After playing their last six games on the road the Jazz returnto Utah to open a critical four-game homestand.
The Jazz will face the Celtics before hosting the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, and Milwaukee Bucks over the next week.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz are back home to face the @celtics on the @KSLSportsZone and https://t.co/4kU961UAvR.#TakeNote https://t.co/XvxeRbMxsN pic.twitter.com/498GCqW6m0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 19, 2023
With 13 games left in the regular season, the Jazz sit in the 11th seed in the West, a half-game back of both the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder, and tied with the 12th-ranked New Orleans Pelicans.
RELATED: Jazz Climb In Standings Despite Quiet Week
Unexpected wins over top playoff teams like the Celtics, Kings, or Bucks this late in the season are likely to have a huge impact on final standings, as the Jazz are still in the running for a spot in the playoffs, or a top-ten pick in the lottery.
Collin Sexton remains out for the Jazz, while Jordan Clarkson’s status will be updated before Saturday’s game.
Celtics Fading In East
Despite owning the second-best record in the East the Celtics are playing arguably their worst basketball of the season.
Boston is just 5-5 in its last 10 outings and is 2-1 to start its six-game road trip including an ugly loss to the Houston Rockets.
The Celtics will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday before making the tough turnaround in Utah.
Jayson Tatum is questionable against the Blazers with a hip bruise while center Robert Williams will miss his seventh straight game with a hamstring injury.
