Lauri Markkanen Throws Down Hammer Dunk Over Rockets Defender
Oct 26, 2022, 8:03 PM | Updated: 8:54 pm
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) lands a big dunk over Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) during the game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen threw down a hammer dunk in the second quarter over a Houston Rockets defender on Wednesday.
Mike Conley found Lauri Markkanen slashing to the basket and fed the big man, who finished with a right-handed slam dunk. That gave the Jazz a 47-38 lead with 3:42 remaining in the second quarter.
Markkanen was up to 10 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes on the floor at that point in the game.
a little 🌶 for the home crowd pic.twitter.com/Fo5CIQeJAt
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 27, 2022
Jazz Lose Offensive Identity Against Houston On Monday
The Jazz saw season lows in several important categories on the offensive end against the Rockets in Monday’s loss.
The team’s 11 made threes, nine free throws, and 23 assists were all their lowest marks of the new season, while their 20 turnovers marked a new high.
No Jazz player broke the 20-point scoring mark as the team failed to score at least 120 points for the first time during the season.
Lauri Markkanen had his worst game in a Jazz uniform shooting 7-19 from the floor and 0-6 from the three-point line while scoring just 14 points.
The odds were against the Jazz who were playing in the final game of a three-game road trip, on the second night of a back-to-back, and the third game in four nights.
The team now returns home for their first home game since the season opener when they stunned the Denver Nuggets with a 123-102 victory in regulation.
Rockets Young Trio Dominates Utah
While the Jazz struggled the Rockets enjoyed their most well-rounded offensive effort of the season.
Three Rockets players scored at least 21 points led by wing Kevin Porter Jr. who finished with 26 points. Second-year guard Jalen Green added 25 while rookie Jabari Smith scored a career-high 21.
Smith reunited with former Auburn teammate and Jazz rookie Walker Kessler who had his toughest outing of the season to date.
Kessler went scoreless in eight minutes of the bench while turning the ball over twice and committing four fouls.
The Jazz and Rockets game is televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. The game will also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.
