In the NBA basketball league, Lauri Markkanen continued his strong performances, when the Utah Jazz represented by Markkanen clearly beat the Indiana Pacers by 139–119. Markkanen caught a handsome statistic line in the match.
The Utah Jazz won their second game in a row in the NBA basketball league. In the home game, another early season surprise team, the Indiana Pacers, fell 139–119. Utah’s Finnish star Lauri Markkanen achieved a handsome statistical line and already his tenth double-double of the early season, when the Finn scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Throughout the match, Utah caused huge problems for Indiana with their offensive game. The home team started the match effectively and led the first quarter with a best of 13 points. Markkanen led his team’s strong start by hitting three of his first four shots.
Markkanen commented on the team’s match with satisfaction at the press conference after the game.
– We tried to keep the tempo up and run fast attacks from possessions, the Finn described.
In the second period, Utah succeeded in this, which sent the team to a wild end of the period. The home team won the last four minutes of the quarter with a score of 21–5.
The coach once again praised Markkas
Utah’s gap remained clear throughout the second half of the match. Utah’s victory was preceded by Indiana’s poor shooting game, as the visiting team hit only 43 percent of its shots. Utah, correspondingly, no less than 55 percent.
After the game, the Utah coach Will Hardy told how he wanted Markkanen to have a similar role as the Finnish giant has in Susijeng.
– He is the focal point for the Finnish national team. He does everything there. We have tried the same thing, we don’t want to limit him.
– He is not just a straight pass thrower or a screener. He is also good in counter attacks. It’s a luxury that as a coach you have a player with whom you can be creative, Hardy praised.
In the national team games, one thing in particular caught Hardy’s eye in Markkanen’s playing.
– The countless times when he took a defensive rebound and went on an offensive run with the ball. I hadn’t seen that from him, Hardy shared his experience.
Hardy has garnered a lot of praise in the preseason around the NBA.
– It’s easy to focus on what the players can’t do. Instead, we try to focus on what the players can do, the head coach opened the Utah coaching mindset.
Markkanen already knew before the season that he will play a big role in Utah. So far, it’s paid off.
– Hardy said at the training camp to do the same things as in the national team games, the Finn mused after the match.