Utah
Lauri Markkanen scores career-high 49 points as Jazz end losing skid
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SALT LAKE CITY — Lauri Markkanen refused accountable a couple of unhealthy bounces on the finish of video games for the staff’s latest shedding streak. Certain, the closing minutes have been fairly unfortunate for Utah of late, however the factors depend the identical at first.
And on Thursday, Markkanen got here out firing because the Finnish All-Star candidate scored 18 factors within the first quarter at Houston. Happily for the Jazz, the scoring did not finish there. Markkanen completed with a career-high 49 factors because the Jazz snapped its five-game skid with a 131-114 win over Houston at Toyota Heart.
Markaken was 15-of-27 from the sphere and went 13-of-13 from the free-throw line in his profession evening. He scored 17 factors within the fourth quarter to assist the Jazz shut on a 21-8 run to tug away from the Rockets.
And perhaps Utah noticed any such efficiency coming. Forward of the sport, Jazz coach Will Hardy wore a hoodie with a picture of the poster the Jazz made for Markkanen’s All-Star marketing campaign printed on it.
Name it foreshadowing for the profession evening.
Markkanen’s earlier career-high was 38 factors, a complete he’d hit twice already this season.
The Jazz shot 49.5% as a staff and 40% from the 3-point line within the win. Malik Beasley and Jordan Clarkson each completed with 19 factors. Utah received a shock efficiency from rookie Ochai Agbaji, too, who scored 11 factors within the fourth quarter and closed the sport for the Jazz.
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