Lauri Markkanen started the new NBA season with 35 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. However, a two-point defeat on the home floor was the fate of Utah, which was very tense.
Emma Hyuppa,
Antti-Jussi Sipilä
The second night of the NBA basketball season saw a historic meeting between the Finns when they met in Salt Lake City Lauri Markkanen starred Utah Jazz and Tuomas Iisalon coached by the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis won the close match with a score of 126–124.
Markkanen was undoubtedly Utah’s and perhaps the most visible character of the entire match with his 35 points, a good 34 minutes of play and nine rebounds. Markkanen succeeded in nine of his fifteen throws.
– Of course, we missed the win, but it feels really good to see the ball go through the basket a few times, Markkanen told Urheilu.
The fast-paced match at the very beginning of the season did not drag Markkas, 27, to the barrel, even though the Finn played big minutes.
– Of course it depends on the game. Sometimes we end up in the tube many times, but yes, you can recover from it. He has trained well in the summer to be able to recover, especially during overtime.
Tuomas Iisalo, who has successfully coached in Europe in recent years, became the first Finnish-born coach in the NBA. Iisalo works as the Memphis Grizzlies’ first assistant coach. The role is big, as he is responsible for the team’s offensive play, for example.
Memphis was running away from Utah in the opening half of the game and led by 17 points at its best. However, the home team was able to close the gap. Eight minutes before the final buzzer, Utah tied the score at 102–102 with Markkanen’s free throw. In total, the Finnish star’s free throws sank with 92.9 percent accuracy (13/14).
– There were good things there, but also a lot to improve. It wasn’t our best game, but we were still able to be firmly involved in that one. It’s a good sign and it’s good to get the first game out of the way, Markkanen evaluates Utah’s performances.
– We had ten three-point shooting attempts in the first half, which is quite a few in today’s basket. We didn’t move the ball the way we normally do. The second half was won, but against good teams, you can’t give ten points.
Five seconds before the end, Markkanen made a nice three-pointer, but it was the last basket of the match. In the entire match, Markkanen succeeded in four of his seven three-point attempts.
Memphis scored the most points, 27 Santi Aldama.