Lauri Markkanen scored 34 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 121-106 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon, ending a four-game losing streak. The game was held in Salt Lake City.
OG Anunoby scored 27 points for the Knicks, who had won four straight games before this loss.
Markkanen was very efficient, hitting 11 of 15 shots, including 5 out of 8 from beyond the arc, and grabbing nine rebounds. The Jazz won their fourth game of the season to start a five-game homestand.
Collin Sexton contributed 25 points, including six 3-pointers, and John Collins added 20 points with 13 rebounds. Walker Kessler had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, while Keyonte George finished with 11 points and nine assists.
Markkanen led the charge in the fourth quarter, starting a 10-0 run with a layup, which helped the Jazz regain an 18-point lead and secure the win. Earlier, Utah had seen a 19-point lead shrink to just two.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and had eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Josh Hart finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
The Jazz shot 50.6% from the field, much better than the Knicks’ 39%. Utah also out-rebounded New York 65-45.
In the second quarter, with a one-point lead, Markkanen made a 3-pointer. Sexton added a three-point play, and Johnny Juzang hit another 3, capping a 9-2 run. The Jazz outscored the Knicks 38-23 in the second quarter to take a 66-51 lead at halftime, with Markkanen scoring 19 of those points.
In the third quarter, Utah led by 19 points, but the Knicks mounted a comeback, cutting the lead to just two after a 17-0 run. This stretch included free throws from Brunson, 10 points from Anunoby, a 3-pointer by Cameron Payne, and a dunk by Jericho Sims.
After a nearly four-minute scoreless stretch for the Jazz, Markkanen ended the drought with four free throws and helped lead a 7-0 run to push the Jazz back toward the win.
