Lauri Markkanen Barrage Keeps Jazz Close Against Atlanta
Jan 7, 2025, 8:15 PM | Updated: Jan 8, 2025, 11:00 am
SALT LAKE CITY – Lauri Markkanen was on fire to start a Jazz homestand, hitting his first five three-point attempts in the first half against Atlanta. Leading a short-handed team missing two starters, Markkanen and Patty Mills did the heavy lifting for a Jazz team looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season.
The Jazz (9-25) will play their third straight game against a Southeast Division opponent on Tuesday, January 7, when the Hawks (18-18) visit Delta Center.
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he’s got 24 in the first half 👀🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/pmt7n8ZX8c
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 8, 2025
Atlanta came out firing, building a 16-point lead before the Jazz got going.
With their defense not up to snuff in the first 24 minutes, Utah is +15 from deep after going 12-of-25 from three. The Jazz assisted on 13 of 20 first half baskets.
Back-to-back threes from Markkanen late in the first quarter kickstarted the offense. The Finnish forward ended the half with 24 points on 7-for-11 from the field. Markkanen also hit five of six free throws.
Four Hawks have scored in double figures, led by 11 from 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels.
Utah trails 65-62 after closing the half on a 12-4 run.
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Brice Sensabaugh is making strides
Eighteen months after the Utah Jazz selected Brice Sensabaugh with the 28th pick of the 2023 NBA draft, the sharpshooting guard is paying dividends on the court for a rebuilding team. The former Ohio State guard has taken full advantage of Jordan Clarkson’s plantar fascia injury while leading his team to road wins over Miami and Orlando.
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Brice Sensabaugh 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting in 28 minutes off the bench 🪣
He’s scored 61 on 23/37 over his last two https://t.co/Y4lFA9lpOf pic.twitter.com/tAQxpAmYyE
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) January 6, 2025
The second-year guard shot 70.6 percent from three (12-of-17) while showing a wide array of dribble-drive ability and soft floaters to be a three-level threat. Sensabaugh scored a career-high 34 points against Miami but wasn’t a one-trick pony. He added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a breakout performance.
The next night, Sensabaugh buried 5-of-6 threes on his way to 27 points against the Magic. Utah was +49 in Sensabaugh’s 53 minutes in the back-to-back.
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Tonight’s game against the Hawks is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
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Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.
