NBA – With 43 points and 10 rebounds, Lauri Markkanen signs a line of stats more seen in Utah since Karl Malone. It was necessary that to overcome Oklahoma City.
Indeed, from the end of the second quarter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (39 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and the Thunder had taken control of the game, their lead hovering around two possessions until the middle of the fourth quarter. And then Lauri Markkanen went into “Finnisher” mode…
The fresh All-Star had yet struggled to restart after his first All-Star Weekend. After three quarters, he was well at 19 points, but at 6/14 in shooting including 1/7 from afar, and 3 bullet losses.
The following will be a series of decisive baskets and free throws, for 24 points at 9/14 including 2/5 from afar at 3-pointers, in the fourth quarter and overtime!
“Yes, I am more confident. My mindset when starting matches is to make a difference and be a finisher.”
“We didn’t play our best defense in the first half, we talked about it” explains Lauri Markkanen after the game. “Then we came back and we did what we know how to do. We played collectively, we trusted our game plan and we found our way out. It’s a big win for us.”
We will particularly remember his 9 points in a row, in the middle of the fourth quarter, to bring Utah back to -4 (93-89) with a final dunk in traffic on Dario Saric. With his technique, his patience but now also his aggressiveness, the Finn was the man of “money time”, even if Walker Kessler was also precious.
“We have heart, we don’t give up. No matter how many points we’re down, we keep fighting to come back, one possession at a time. And that’s what we did tonight.” continues the hero of the evening.
It is clearly a different Lauri Markkanen that we see this season. With his 43 points and 10 rebounds, he compiles the numbers most seen in Utah since… Karl Malone. “Yes, I am more confident. My mindset when starting matches is to make a difference and be a finisher. » Un « Finnisher ».
| Lauri Markkanen | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | CHI | 68 | 30 | 43.4 | 36.2 | 84.3 | 1.2 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 15.2 |
| 2018-19 | CHI | 52 | 32 | 43.0 | 36.1 | 87.2 | 1.4 | 7.6 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 50 | 30 | 42.5 | 34.4 | 82.4 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 14.7 |
| 2020-21 | CHI | 51 | 26 | 48.0 | 40.2 | 82.6 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.6 |
| 2021-22 | CLE | 61 | 31 | 44.5 | 35.8 | 86.8 | 1.0 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 14.8 |
| 2022-23 | UTH | 54 | 34 | 51.2 | 41.2 | 87.7 | 1.8 | 6.8 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 24.9 |
| Total | 336 | 31 | 45.5 | 37.3 | 85.7 | 1.2 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 16.9 | |
