SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 51 points, the first Jazz player to reach 50 in the regular season since Karl Malone in 1998, and Utah beat the Phoenix Suns 138-134 in overtime on Monday night.
Markkanen helped the Jazz recover after they blew a seven-point lead in the final 19 seconds of regulation, scoring seven points in the extra period. He also finished with 14 rebounds.
Markkanen made all 17 free throws and topped his previous best of 49 points set on Jan. 5, 2023. It was the most by a Utah player in the regular season since Malone had 56 against Golden State on April 7, 1998.
Keyonte George had 26 points and 10 assists, while Walker Kessler had 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Jazz.
Devin Booker scored 24 of his 34 points after halftime and Grayson Allen added 23 for the Suns. Jalen Green (hamstring) and Dillon Brooks (groin) were out for Phoenix but Mark Williams returned from a knee injury with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
George made a running bank shot with 40 seconds left in OT to snap a tie and Markkanen made two clinching free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining.
The Jazz led most of the game and were up 122-115 after George's free throws with 23 seconds left in regulation. But Booker made two 3-pointers and the Jazz later fouled him leading by three with 4.9 seconds to play.
Booker made the first free throw and Williams scored after the rebound of his missed second shot to force overtime. Markkanen's baseline jumper rimmed out as time expired in regulation.
The Jazz (2-1), expected to finish near the bottom of the NBA, are a rebound away from being undefeated (a 105-104 loss to Sacramento).
The Suns (1-3) have lost three straight.
Suns: Host Memphis Wednesday.
Jazz: Host Portland Wednesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Murder for Two Read moreMurder For Two
Kicks or Treats: Dance for Free Week at CY Danceworks! Read moreKicks or Treats Dance for Free Week at CY Danceworks
Brian Wright said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
DavidKristofferson said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
Mick - are you quoting Michelle Obama? Duplicity is her middle name. Digging in our respective heels is not solving anything.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.