Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton led the way as the Utah Jazz dominated the Indiana Pacers with a 132-105 victory during Monday night’s NBA action, marking their sixth consecutive win. Markkanen notched 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Sexton added a season-high 30 points in the rout.
Keyonte George contributed 19 points, and Jordan Clarkson added 17 for the Jazz, who shot an impressive 55.6%. This was the season’s second game where the Jazz led from start to finish, the first being on November 1. The Jazz’s home record now stands at an imposing 22-20, with nine consecutive home victories by an average margin of 16.8 points.
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle drew comparisons between Markkanen and basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki before the game. Carlisle praised Markkanen for his ability to stretch the game with his height and inside play, likening him to the Hall of Famer.
“He’s the closest thing that I’ve seen to Nowitzki — just in terms of a 7-footer that can really stretch the game out and play inside,” Carlisle said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers Updates
Markkanen, recently named Finland’s 2023 Athlete of the Year and the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week for January 8-14, responded humbly to the comparison, seeing it as a source of motivation.
“I don’t think it’s easy to live up to that but I think there are similar similarities. Still, a long way to go. So it’s nice for him say and it gives me more motivation to get better,” Markkanen said.
His teammate Walker Kessler noted a newfound confidence in Markkanen’s on-court demeanor, observing his more assertive and expressive play style.
“He’s out here staring people down and flexing, which I’ve never seen in my life,” Kessler said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers Updates
Markkanen’s recent form has been impressive, with three 30-point games in January and consistent trips to the free-throw line, where he was perfect with 10 for 10 against the Pacers. Coach Will Hardy commended Markkanen’s physicality and ability to exploit mismatches.
“He’s playing really, really physically when he has the ball,” Hardy said. “We’ve had a couple of games where he’s been able to play against the switch and use his physicality and size against smaller players.”
Buddy Hield and Andrew Nembhard scored 14 points for the Pacers, but the team struggled without key players Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and Bruce Brown. Despite this, Hield dismissed fatigue as a factor in their performance.
“We didn’t have fatigue. We’re basketball players, man,” Hield said. “That’s what we do. We want to play every day. Just didn’t execute.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers Updates
The Pacers faced a significant challenge as Utah’s guards exerted pressure and the team embarked on a decisive 25-8 run across the second and third quarters. Coach Carlisle admitted the difficulty in containing the Jazz’s momentum.
“Their guards bullied us into the paint and scored repeatedly,” Carlisle said. “We did a lot of substituting but they just got going and it was just hard to stop their entire team.”
Sexton, who has been efficiently scoring despite limited minutes, is averaging nearly 29 points per 36 minutes over the last month, ranking sixth in the NBA. Emphasizing his resilience and determination, Sexton has become a crucial player for the Jazz, who have gone 15-3 since he joined the starting lineup.
“I’ve been counted out before,” Sexton said. “I mean, I’ve been put down, so I feel like right now this is my time to show. I told myself I need to make those winning plays that may change the whole game. So just going out there and just making plays for myself, but also for my team.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers Updates
Following their record-setting performance in field goal percentage against Atlanta, the Pacers struggled with a 40% shooting rate from the field.
Looking ahead, the Pacers will continue their six-game trip against Sacramento on Thursday night, while the Jazz will face Golden State on Wednesday night as part of their six-game homestand.
