Markkanen torches Sixers, Giannis not enough for Bucks vs. Pacers

By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net

Lauri Markannen had one of his top games of the season with 33 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz past the Philadelphia 76ers 120 – 109 on the road.

This was Markannen’s third-highest scoring performance in 2023-24. The Finnish big man shot a solid 12-19 from the field, including 5-9 triples during the 35 minutes he spent on the floor to make short work of the Sixers’ defense.

“Last night was tough, but it tells a lot about our group to be able to refocus and come here locked in,” Markkanen said, referring to how the Jazz reacted following a blowout 126 – 97 defeat to the Boston Celtics. “For the most part, we were doing the right things.”

Philadelphia didn’t have enough offensive solutions to counter the Jazz in MVP Joel Embiid’s absence due to knee swelling.  “Without him [Embiid], we’ve got to find different ways and different guys have to got to step up, myself included, and help us win games,” said Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey after pacing the team with 25 points and nine assists.

Simone Fontecchio scored seven points for the Jazz.

January hasn’t been pretty so far for the Milwaukee Bucks. Behind 21 points and 11 rebounds by Alperen Sengun, the Houston Rockets handed the 2021 champions a 112 – 108 defeat, despite a 48-piece by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“We have to be better,” said Giannis, who also had 17 rebounds. This was the Bucks’ third loss over the last four games, after also back-to-back losses by the Indiana Pacers. We have to play better, we have to defend better, we have to trust one another better, we have to be coached better.”

Deni Avdija had a season-high 23 points, along with 10 rebounds and six assists but his Washington Wizards needed a lot more than that and Kyle Kuzma’s 27 points to counter the hot New York Knicks.

The duo of Julius Randle (39 points) and Jalen Brunson (33 points) was unstoppable and the Knicks outplayed the Wizards 121 – 105 to register their fourth straight win.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed a season-high 19 rebounds for the Knicks to go with his eight points.

The rest of Saturday’s (6/1) results and notable Euro performers:

Boston Celtics – Indiana Pacers 118 – 101

Standings (via NBA.com):

Eastern Conference:

TEAM W L WIN% GB CONF DIV HOME ROAD OT LAST10 STREAK
1

Boston Celtics

28 7 .800 22-4 10-1 17-0 11-7 1-3 8-2 W 2
2

Milwaukee Bucks

25 11 .694 3.5 20-10 6-5 16-3 9-8 1-1 6-4 L 1
3

Philadelphia 76ers

23 12 .657 5 17-9 5-3 13-6 10-6 0-1 5-5 L 2
4

New York Knicks

21 15 .583 7.5 16-9 4-3 10-4 11-11 0-0 6-4 W 4
5

Miami Heat

20 15 .571 8 15-10 7-0 9-6 11-9 0-0 6-4 L 1
6

Orlando Magic

20 15 .571 8 14-9 4-2 12-4 8-11 0-1 4-6 W 1
7

Indiana Pacers

20 15 .571 8 17-11 9-2 11-8 9-7 0-0 7-3 L 1
8

Cleveland Cavaliers

20 15 .571 8 13-9 3-3 11-8 9-7 2-0 7-3 W 2
9

Brooklyn Nets

16 20 .444 12.5 13-11 1-4 10-8 6-12 0-1 3-7 W 1
10

Chicago Bulls

16 21 .432 13 11-15 3-5 12-9 4-12 2-2 6-4 W 1
11

Atlanta Hawks

14 20 .412 13.5 9-16 4-3 5-9 9-11 1-0 4-6 L 1
12

Toronto Raptors

14 21 .400 14 9-17 0-9 9-9 5-12 1-1 4-6 L 1
13

Charlotte Hornets

8 25 .242 19 7-16 3-5 4-11 4-14 1-0 1-9 L 1
14

Washington Wizards

6 29 .171 22 4-24 1-9 3-12 3-17 0-0 2-8 L 4
15

Detroit Pistons

3 32 .086 25 3-20 1-7 2-14 1-18 0-2 1-9 L 3
Western Conference:
TEAM W L WIN% GB CONF DIV HOME ROAD OT LAST10 STREAK
1

Minnesota Timberwolves

25 9 .735 18-5 4-1 14-2 11-7 1-0 6-4 W 1
2

Oklahoma City Thunder

23 11 .676 2 14-8 5-2 14-5 9-6 2-0 7-3 L 2
3

Denver Nuggets

25 12 .676 1.5 16-9 2-3 14-4 11-8 0-0 8-2 L 1
4

LA Clippers

22 12 .647 3 17-9 5-2 14-4 8-8 0-1 8-2 W 5
5

Sacramento Kings

21 13 .618 4 15-11 5-4 13-6 8-7 3-0 6-4 W 2
6

Dallas Mavericks

21 15 .583 5 16-12 6-3 10-7 11-8 0-0 5-5 W 2
7

New Orleans Pelicans

21 15 .583 5 14-13 4-5 12-8 9-7 0-1 6-4 L 1
8

Phoenix Suns

19 16 .543 6.5 12-12 3-6 11-10 8-6 2-0 6-4 W 1
9

Houston Rockets

18 16 .529 7 14-10 7-2 15-6 3-10 0-2 5-5 W 1
10

Golden State Warriors

17 18 .486 8.5 11-15 3-6 11-9 6-9 1-2 6-4 W 1
11

Los Angeles Lakers

17 19 .472 9 13-12 4-2 11-6 6-13 1-1 2-8 L 4
12

Utah Jazz

17 20 .459 9.5 10-15 3-5 11-5 6-15 2-1 7-3 W 1
13

Memphis Grizzlies

12 23 .343 13.5 9-19 5-6 3-13 9-10 1-1 6-4 W 1
14

Portland Trail Blazers

9 25 .265 16 5-20 1-4 5-11 4-14 1-2 3-7 L 3
15

San Antonio Spurs

5 29 .147 20 5-19 1-7 2-15 3-14 1-1 1-9 L 4
Related Post