The Utah Jazz emerged triumphant against the New York Knicks with a final score of 117-113, marking Lauri Markkanen’s comeback to the lineup.
Despite being under a playing time restriction of 25 minutes due to a strained hamstring, Markkanen showcased his prowess by scoring 23 points for the Jazz.
Leading the charge for the Jazz, Collin Sexton contributed 26 points, while Julius Randle spearheaded the Knicks with an impressive 32 points.
Commencing with the first quarter, Keyonte George endured a left foot injury, forcing him to exit the game. This setback followed previous ankle injuries dating back to his time at Baylor. Although George was ruled out for the rest of the game, there was a sigh of relief that it was his left foot and not the troublesome right ankle.
The game, initially tied at 7-7, saw the Knicks surging ahead with a 24-15 run, concluding the first quarter with a 31-24 lead.
Moving into the second quarter, Markkanen’s return saw him knocking down consecutive threes, narrowing the Knicks’ lead to 33-30. Taylor Hendricks exhibited growth, contributing with a strategic dunk and a crucial block on RJ Barrett, fueling a Collin Sexton three that brought the deficit to 37-35.
Maintaining defensive prowess, the Jazz limited the Knicks to six points in the first 7:30 of the third quarter, establishing a 43-37 lead at halftime.
Struggling to find a rhythm from beyond the arc, the Knicks shot a mere 6-26 from downtown through the first three quarters, while the Jazz capitalized on threes, connecting on 13-30 attempts.
Walker Kessler, relatively quiet in the first half, made a significant impact in the third quarter, contributing on both ends with finishes near the rim, rebounds, and defensive deterrence against Knicks shooters.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Jazz seized control, scoring the initial five points and building a 95-84 lead. Talen Horton-Tucker, after a slow start, aggressively attacked the Knicks’ defense in transition, hitting his first four shots of the quarter.
Despite a late surge by the Knicks, with Donte DiVincenzo’s three trimming the lead to five with 1:55 remaining, they missed crucial three-point opportunities in the final 30 seconds. Quentin Grimes and Jalen Brunson failed to convert, resulting in the Jazz securing a 117-113 victory over the Knicks.