Lauri Markkanen led the Utah Jazz to a 131-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, scoring 32 points and recording a season-high three steals.
Jordan Clarkson contributed 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, helping Utah snap a three-game losing streak. Keyonte George came off the bench to add 20 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
LeBron James finished with 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds for the Lakers, while Rui Hachimura led the team with 19 points. Luka Dončić added 16 points, and Austin Reaves chipped in 15 points with 11 assists.
Utah surged ahead in the second quarter, going on a 19-6 run that included two alley-oop dunks from Walker Kessler, taking a 56-45 lead. Kessler also impressed defensively with a season-high five blocks before halftime.
After the Lakers cut the deficit to 74-69 with back-to-back 3-pointers from James and Reaves, Utah responded with a dominant 22-2 run in the third quarter. Clarkson was key in the stretch, scoring three consecutive layups, and Kessler capped the run with a tip-in dunk, putting Utah up 96-71. Los Angeles struggled offensively, going five minutes with just one basket before Hachimura’s 3-pointer sparked a brief rally.
Takeaways:
- Lakers: Bronny James scored a career-high nine points in the fourth quarter.
- Jazz: Utah has now won three of its last four home games, matching its win total from the first 20 home games of the season.
Key Moment: Utah broke open the game in the third quarter, scoring on eight straight possessions during their decisive 22-2 run.
Key Stat: Isaiah Collier recorded nine assists, marking his sixth consecutive game with nine or more assists.