Lauri Markkanen led the Utah Jazz with 21 points in a 123-108 win against the Milwaukee Bucks during Sunday’s NBA action, breaking a three-game losing streak.
Collin Sexton contributed 19 points, while John Collins and Keyonte George each added a double-double, with Collins scoring 15 points alongside 10 rebounds and George scoring 19 points with 10 rebounds.
A remarkable fourth quarter saw the Jazz outscore the Bucks 40-13, bolstered by their defense that capitalized on turnovers and limited Milwaukee to just four field goals in the last 12 minutes.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Markkanen highlighted the synergy between defense and offense, attributing their scoring success to the stops they made.
“We were getting stops so it kind of feeds into the offense,” Markkanen said. “You always look at offense and defense separately, but they really go hand in hand. You get stops, you get out and run and then you get good shots.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo stood out for the Bucks with 33 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds, with Bobby Portis and Malik Beasley adding 27 and 16 points, respectively. Despite missing key players Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, the Bucks scored 19 points from 16 Jazz turnovers without conceding any points off turnovers until late in the third quarter.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The game shifted dramatically in the fourth quarter, with the Jazz overcoming a 19-point deficit. Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk‘s consecutive 3-pointers ignited a 19-3 run, putting Utah in the lead. Despite a brief lead retake by Milwaukee following an Antetokounmpo layup, Utah surged ahead in the final minutes, securing the win with a series of successful possessions.
“I don’t think it was the energy, I think we need to make shots,” Antetokounmpo said. “It was a lot of wide-open shots that we didn’t make. You make one or two, the momentum stops and it’s a whole different game.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers lamented the missed opportunities, noting the team’s inability to convert open shots, particularly in the critical final quarter.
“We couldn’t script better shots,” Rivers said. “Every shot was wide open, but everything was front rim.”
The loss marked only the second time this season the Bucks faltered in the second game of a back-to-back set, struggling against the Jazz’s intensified pace and pressure.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Bucks had previously dominated the second quarter, with AJ Green, Cameron Payne, and Jae Crowder leading a significant run to build a lead. However, the Jazz’s resilience in the second half, especially in controlling the paint and rebounding, was pivotal to their comeback.
“We do know they played last night, so we tried to up the tempo and up the pressure a little bit,” Sexton said.
Looking ahead, the Bucks are set to face the Phoenix Suns, while the Jazz will host the Oklahoma City Thunder, both games scheduled for Tuesday night.
