Jazz Win It with the 3 Ball. Utah 121 NY 106

November 24, 2024 LouV 2024-25 0

The Jazz shot lights out from 3 to pull away from a sluggish NY team in the 2nd quarter, then withstood a Knick comeback early in the 4th to again sting the Knicks with the 3 ball, in their 121-106 win in Utah on a Saturday afternoon.

Lauri Markkanen was 5-8 from 3 (and 11-15 overall) for 34 pts, Collin Sexton was 6-8 from 3 (and 9-14 overall) for 25 pts, Johnny Juzang came off Utah’s bench to shoot 4-7 from 3, and the Jazz as a team were 19-34 from 3 for 55.9%. 

Meanwhile Jalen Brunson (2-9 from 3), Karl-Anthony Towns (1-9 from 3) and Mikal Bridges (1-7 from 3) shot a combined 4-25 from 3 as NY as a team shot 33% from 3 (17-51).

The Knicks pulled to within 7 early in the 4th, and were within 8 pts with 8 minutes left after a Karl-Anthony Towns drive-and-1, but Markkanen hit a drive, Walker Kessler dunked, Collin Sexton hit a 3, and Juzang hit a 3 and it was game over — Utah leading by 18 with 6:16 left.

“We were low-energy and I thought that those guys gave us energy, they (Cameron Payne and Jericho Sims) gave us a good boost, and sort of got us going,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards Payne and Sims sparking a 17-0 Knick run in the 3rd quarter. “And again, you’d rather be playing from a lead; I think that’s important. We were chasing all night.”

NY drops to 9-7; Utah improves to 4-12.

1. Jazz Jump Out to Big Lead But OG Brings Knicks Back

Walker Kessler, Utah’s 7-foot scoring big man, started the game by personally greeting every Knick player on the court before the tip off. There have been rumors since the summer that the Knicks have been looking to acquire Kessler so some fans thought his actions interesting.

Utah also has Lauri Markkanen, who Phil Jackson famously wanted to trade up to pick in the 2017 draft, before he was fired just before the draft. Markkanen went #7 to Minnesota, the Knicks selected Frank Ntilikina #8. Many Knick fans wanted NY to pick Donovan Mitchell, whom Utah picked at #12, then years later traded to Cleveland for a boatload of players and picks, including Markkanen (who had been traded to Cleveland by then) and Collin Sexton.

Utah also has John Collins, still only 27 years old, who stared for years on Atlanta, before being traded to Utah in the summer of 2023 in a salary dump for Rudy Gay and a 2nd round pick. Collins makes $25M a year.

And so the game began and Markkanen, Collins, Sexton, and Kessler took it to the Knicks. Sexton hit a deuce, Collins hit a couple of 3’s, Markkanen scored inside, Collins scored inside, Kessler dunked, and Jordan Clarkson scored to give Utah a 19-7 lead.

But the Knicks pushed right back — OG Anunoby hitting three 3’s late in the quarter, Tyler Kolek hitting a 3, and Mikal Bridges hitting a 3 — as NY took a 28-26 lead. A Markkanen score tied the game at 28 after 1 quarter.

2. Utah Takes Sizable Lead at End of 2nd Quarter

Utah pushed right back to start the 2nd quarter, with Lauri Markkanen leading the way — a 3 to start the quarter, a deuce inside, and another 3 and Utah was up 36-32.

Markkanen, Collins, and Kessler continued to push the pace, as NY looked sluggish. Kessler was not only scoring on drives and dunks but was also blocking shots, as he is known for.

Still the Knicks pushed back — a Josh Hart dunk with 2:43 left in the quarter pulled NY to within 56-49.

But Utah had a strong final 2 minutes — back-to-back Markkanen 3’s, a Kessler drive, and Keyonte George floater at the buzzer put Utah up 15 at the half.

3. NY Goes on 17-0 Run in 3rd to Pull Back within 7

Utah pushed their lead to 19 points and held it there for the first 6 minutes of the 3rd quarter, before NY went on a 17-0 run led by Cameron Payne and Jericho Sims.

Anunoby hit a 3 and a made a dunk, Payne hit a 3, and Jericho dunked off an offensive rebound and NY was within 77-70 with 4:27 left in the quarter.

Anunoby continued to put up points for the Knicks, while Markkanen and Sexton and Kessler continued to do so for Utah. At the end of 3 it was Utah 87 NY 78.

4. Utah Breaks It Open with 8 Minutes Left

Josh Hart and Cameron Payne scored for NY early in the 4th, offsetting a 3 by Sexton and a drive by Kessler, and when Karl-Anthony Towns scored on a drive-and-1, NY was down 94-86 with 8:03 left.

And that’s when Markkanen hit a drive, Kessler dunked, Sexton hit a 3, and Juzang hit a 3 — and it was ballgame; Utah up 104-86 with 6:16 left.

 

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704830

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*