2024-01-16 05:42:02
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen had 32 points and 10 rebounds, Collin Sexton scored a season-high 30 points and the Utah Jazz rolled past the Indiana Pacers 132-105 on Monday night for their sixth consecutive victory.
Before the game, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle compared Markkanen to Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.
“He’s the closest I’ve seen to Nowitzki, in terms of what a 7-foot-3 player who can really stretch the outside game and play inside can do,” Carlisle said.
That was just the latest in a series of recent accolades for the Jazz forward, who then showed his versatility on the floor against the Pacers (23-17).
Last week, Markkanen was named Finland’s 2023 Athlete of the Year, and was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the period January 8-14.
Markkanen has scored at least 30 points three times in January and made at least 10 free throws in three of his last four games. He went 10-for-10 from the line Monday night.
Keyonte George had 19 points and Jordan Clarkson added 17 for the Jazz, who shot 55.6%. Utah (22-20) has won nine straight at home by an average of 16.8 points.
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