Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) drives as Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) defends in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball sport Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake Metropolis. (AP Picture/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY — Lauri Markkanen scored 22 factors and had 9 rebounds to steer the Utah Jazz to a 145-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night time within the NBA.
Jordan Clarkson scored 21 factors and Collin Sexton added 20 for the Jazz. Kelly Olynyk had a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench. Utah gained for the tenth time in 12 video games and earned its seventh straight win at dwelling to maneuver to .500 general.
The Jazz outscored the Raptors 58-32 within the paint and made 21 3-pointers. Utah additionally had a 68-36 benefit in whole rebounds.
“The sport has simply been enjoyable,” Clarkson stated. “When the ball is popping and all people is concerned, I feel the vibe is basically good and it carries over to our protection too.”
sixty fourth 20+ sport for Jordan off the bench since his Jazzman debut on December 26, 2019.
that is 20 greater than the subsequent closest participant in that span 🏴☠️#PlayerHighlights | @zionsbank pic.twitter.com/NFd90aXZPF
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 13, 2024
Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 27 factors. Siakam returned after sitting out Wednesday’s 126-120 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with again spasms. Scottie Barnes added 19 factors and Immanuel Rapidly chipped in 15 for the Raptors. Toronto misplaced a 3rd straight sport and completed its six-game highway swing with solely two victories.
“We didn’t have vitality,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic stated. “We bought to learn to shut highway journeys, tips on how to play these video games away from dwelling. It comes all the way down to that psychological toughness and self-discipline.”
The Jazz constructed a 56-41 lead late within the second quarter. Markkanen scored back-to-back baskets and sank a pair of free throws to gasoline a 14-4 run that put Utah up by double digits. Clarkson punctuated the run with a 3-pointer.
The Raptors struggled to maintain tempo with Utah regardless of going 16 of 24 from 3-point vary by means of the primary three quarters.
Toronto made solely 5 discipline objectives contained in the arc in the course of the first half. Barnes accounted for 3 of these baskets, the final one approaching a layup that trimmed the deficit to 35-32 early within the second quarter.
The Jazz made some extent of collapsing on driving lanes within the paint and forcing the Raptors to play excessive from the perimeter. It led to Toronto scoring simply six factors within the paint within the first half.
“We did a very good job of shifting,” Utah coach Will Hardy stated. “The blokes on the ball did a very good job of containing the preliminary drive.”
Utah began the third quarter by scoring baskets on six straight possessions, extending its result in 80-56. Simone Fontecchio ignited the run with back-to-back 3-pointers and added a layup in that opening stretch. The Jazz completed with a season-high 41 factors within the third quarter.
5 totally different gamers had 5 or extra assists for Utah.
“The ball is basically shifting round,” Hardy stated. “I feel everybody feels concerned in what we’re doing.”
NEXT SCHEDULE
Toronto: Hosts Boston on Monday night time.
Utah: Hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night time.