Jazz 131, Rockets 117: 2 Winners, 2 Losers
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Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 49 points while grabbing eight rebounds as the Utah Jazz snapped their five-game losing streak to defeat the Houston Rockets, 131-114.
Jalen Green led Houston with 30 points in a losing cause. The Jazz finally were able to get a win playing the last-place Rockets, although the game was a lot closer than the final score.
The Rockets were only down four points at the 5:15 mark in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz closed the game out with a 21-8 run to secure a much-needed victory.
Some players shined while others not so much. Let’s break down the winners and losers from Thursday night's action.
Winner: Lauri Markkanen
Markkanen is averaging 36.2 ppg while grabbing 10.2 rebounds in his last five games. The stats are definitely there, but will Utah’s leading scorer get the nod to play in what would be his first All-Star game?
The votes are starting to trickle in, and Markkanen is currently behind six front-court players, according to the fan voting. The media and players will also have a say on who gets selected when it’s all said and done.
It could be a photo finish, but my money is on Markkanen playing in the first All-Star game hosted in Salt Lake City since 1993.
Loser: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
After the Sacramento Kings loss, Jazz head coach Will Hardy eluded that there could be some rotation changes moving forward, and it looks like Alexander Walker is the odd man out for now. Alexander-Walker has had some good moments this year, including a 27-point performance on the road against the Denver Nuggets.
That being said, his play has been uneven over the last couple weeks and he’ll have to now wait for another opportunity to get in the good graces of his new head coach.
Winner: Ochai Agbaji
Agbaji had his best game as a pro, scoring 11 points on 3-for-4 from long distance. It was the first time the first-round pick from Kansas logged double-digit minutes since December 10.
Agbaji brings elite athleticism paired with some length on defense, which has been an Achilles heel for the Jazz in their recent struggles. Hardy rewarded Agbaji's play by letting him finish the game despite the outcome still being in doubt. We’ll see whether Agbagi can parlay this performance into a permanent spot in the rotation moving forward.
Loser: Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk struggled Thursday night, scoring only two points on 1-for-6 shooting while committing five fouls. This is starting to become a trend for Utah’s starting center as he’s averaging seven points on 28% shooting in his last five games.
Olynyk doesn’t offer much on the defensive end, and he’ll need get back to being an efficient scorer if he wants to be on the floor to close out games in the future.
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