In a thrilling Emirates NBA Cup game, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious over the Utah Jazz by a score of 124-118. The win marked the sixth straight for the Lakers, who continue their hot streak after a challenging start to the season on their road trip.
Lakers Consolidate
The win further solidified their position with a 9-4 record after 13 games, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record at home.
On the other hand, the loss was a significant blow to the Utah Jazz, who now have an 0-2 record in the November NBA Cup Playoffs, severely hurting their chances of advancing in the tournament.
Despite the loss, the Utah Jazz had several standout performances. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 25 points, contributing solidly on both ends of the court.
Collin Sexton had a strong performance, scoring 19 points, 9 of which came in the final quarter, while Keyonte George also came up big with 18 points, 10 of which came in the crucial final quarter.
Both Jordan Clarkson and John Collins played well, scoring between 16 and 22 points each, but their efforts were not enough to secure the victory.
For their part, the Los Angeles Lakers had LeBron James and Anthony Davis as key pieces to their success, each scoring 26 points. James also played a key role in facilitating the offense, running the pick-and-roll and assisting his teammates for open shots, especially from the top of the key.
Dalton Knecht Shines With Personal Record 37 Points
However, it was Dalton Knecht who had the most outstanding performance of the game, scoring a personal-best 37 points. Knecht was outstanding from the three-point line, making 9 of his 12 attempts, tying the NBA single-game rookie record with those 9 three-pointers.
His performance included an impressive run in which he scored 22 consecutive points for the Lakers, helping the team maintain control throughout the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers' dominance from beyond the arc was a key factor in the victory, as they finished with 14 made three-pointers out of 31 attempts. While Knecht's shooting was the highlight, the team's overall performance from the perimeter kept the Utah Jazz under pressure, making it difficult for them to close the gap on the scoreboard.
A GREAT match on Matchday 12 of the #EliminatoriasSudamericanas! 🇧🇷💥🇺🇾#Uruguay has two recent consecutive wins over #Brazil, who only lost one home game in the World Cup qualifiers.
Have you got your prediction yet, play now! ➡ https://t.co/HCS0drbkft pic.twitter.com/AvvOBABWWJ
- Betcris (@Betcris) November 19, 2024
Winning streak
The Los Angeles Lakers' recent success has been a testament to their resilience after a difficult start to the season. With their solid performance in this game, they have now won five consecutive games, maintaining their strong performance at home.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz have now lost three straight games, and despite individual efforts from Markkanen, George and Sexton, the team could not get the win.
In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers were still playing without key player Rui Hachimura, who missed his third straight game due to an ankle sprain, and rookie Bronny James, who did not play due to a bruised left heel.
James has been adjusting to NBA life while dealing with injury concerns, splitting his time between the NBA and G League, and had been listed as questionable for the game against Utah after playing 26 minutes in his second G League game.
The game marked another chapter in the Los Angeles Lakers' winning streak, while the Utah Jazz will have to regroup as they continue their road trip in the tournament, hoping to reverse their situation in the next game.
