Markkanen Leads Jazz To Victory Over Lakers, Extends 5-Game Winning Streak

The Lakers, playing without LeBron James due to an ankle injury, saw Anthony Davis achieve a triple-double. However, Utah’s transition game proved too strong, with 27 fast-break points and 23 points off turnovers. Coach Hardy praised his team’s recognition of their speed advantage and ability to capitalize on it.

“We didn’t want this game to be played all in the halfcourt,” Hardy said. “We felt like our speed in transition was an advantage. The team did a really good job of recognizing that and getting out and running.”

D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers with a season-high 39 points and eight assists. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura added 19 and 17 points, respectively. Despite Davis’ triple-double, he struggled with shooting efficiency and turnovers.

“When our offense is going, it’s our defense that’s not. When our defense is going, it’s our offense that’s not,” Russell said. “I really don’t know what’s going on.”

Utah gained momentum with a 15-3 run in the third quarter, taking the lead with key contributions from Markkanen and Kris Dunn. The Lakers narrowed the gap to three points in the final quarter but couldn’t overcome the Jazz, who secured a double-digit lead after Sexton’s alley-oop dunk.

“I think our defense picked up after the first quarter, and we were able to keep it up, and that won us the game,” Markkanen said.

The Jazz’s strong free-throw performance in the fourth quarter, where they went 17-19, contributed significantly to their victory. Markkanen and Sexton were particularly effective from the line, each making 10 free throws.

The game saw many free throws, with both teams combining for 63 attempts, which Lakers coach Darvin Ham noted disrupted the game’s flow.

“That’s a lot of free throws between both teams combined,” Ham said. “It totally disrupts the flow of the game.”

Despite James’ absence, the Lakers initially started strong, with Reaves and Russell combining for the team’s first 19 points. However, Utah closed the gap by halftime and overcame their defensive shortcomings from the first quarter, as noted by Coach Hardy.

Looking ahead, the Lakers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Jazz will play at home against the Indiana Pacers, both on Monday.