SALT LAKE CITY — Lauri Markkanen’s dominant display of 33 points and 11 rebounds led the Utah Jazz to a 124-117 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, showcasing his pivotal role in Tuesday night’s matchup. John Collins contributed significantly with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Keyonte George added 16 points and five assists, underscoring the Jazz’s collective effort to secure the win.
Utah’s strategy to dominate inside paid off, outscoring the Thunder 19-9 in second-chance points and holding a commanding 60-36 advantage in the paint. Jazz coach Will Hardy praised the team’s defensive efforts, particularly in protecting the paint, as a key factor in their success.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 28 points and seven assists, with Jalen Williams adding 26 points. Chet Holmgren also made a notable impact with 22 points and eight rebounds. Despite Oklahoma City’s proficiency from beyond the arc, with 19 3-pointers made, their inability to score in the paint after halftime was a critical shortfall, as highlighted by Gilgeous-Alexander’s remarks on the need for improvement.
The game was tightly contested into the fourth quarter, with Williams’ three-point shooting briefly giving Oklahoma City a lead. However, George’s crucial three-pointers and his assist to Markkanen for another key basket shifted the momentum back to Utah, securing their lead in the final minutes.
Markkanen reflected on the importance of performing in critical moments, whether on offense or defense. This victory marked the second consecutive game where Utah overcame a second-half double-digit deficit to clinch a win at home, indicating their resilience and ability to execute under pressure.
The Thunder’s early lead, propelled by effective scoring from Gilgeous-Alexander and Dieng, showcased their potential. However, Utah’s rally, highlighted by Markkanen’s third-quarter scoring spree and a decisive 16-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, demonstrated their capacity to overturn deficits.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault pointed to Utah’s physicality and dominance in rebounding and paint scoring as significant challenges that Oklahoma City failed to counter effectively. The Jazz’s improvement to 20-1 when leading into the fourth quarter this season emphasizes their ability to close out games successfully.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma City will aim to regroup as they travel to Dallas on Saturday, while Utah looks to carry their momentum into their next game at Phoenix on Thursday night. This matchup between the Jazz and Thunder highlighted the importance of interior dominance, timely shooting, and the ability to execute in crunch time as key factors in securing a win in the competitive landscape of the NBA.
