Jazz Big Man Markkanen Catches Fire Late In 2Q Against Rockets
Oct 26, 2022, 8:13 PM
Lauri Markkanen (23) of the Jazz drives to the net while playing the Mavericks in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. The Mavericks won 115-101. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen caught fire late in the second quarter against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Lauri Markkanen scored seven points in the final four minutes of the second quarter, including two dunks and a three-pointer. He had 11 points in the second quarter.
Markkanen finished the first half with 15 points, five rebounds, and one assist on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-for-2 from downtown.
Talen Horton-Tucker was the other Jazz player to score in double figures in the first half with 10 points. Both Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson had nine points apiece.
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.
