Lauri Markkanen makes Utah history not seen in this century in a win against the Suns

Expectations for Utah Jazz who started the 2025-26 season. After all, they were coming off a season where they won the fewest games in the NBA last season with 17. They always seemed to throw the season around March and April, with like Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler are “resting” for what might be assumed to be tanker purposes.

But under the watchful eye of head coach Will Hardy, the Jazz can be very competitive, especially heading into the new campaign. On Monday night, the Jazz, after being pushed to the brink by the Phoenix Suns, were able to pull out a 138-134 overtime victory — Markkanen scored 51 points on 14-32 shooting from the field.

Markkanen’s talent can never be questioned, as he remains one of the most versatile scorers in the league and one of the most efficient as he moves smoothly despite standing at 7’0″. And with his career-high effort in the Jazz’s second win of the season in three games, he is became the first player in franchise history to score at least 50 points in a single game since Karl Malone scored 56 all the way back in 1998, as noted by ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Siegel.

This incredible performance by Markkanen is also the fourth time this season that someone has broken the 50-point barrier. The jazz star joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (55), Aaron Gordon (50), and Austin Reeves (51) as those who have surpassed the half-century mark in points in a single game so far this season.

This speaks volumes for how high the level of collective talent is in the NBA today, and the Jazz were the latest to benefit from the stellar play of their best player.

Jazz get second win of season: 2022-23 repeat?

During the 2022-23 campaign, the Jazz were very competitive for most of the year before they decided to pull the plug near the end of the season. Since then, Utah has gotten worse and worse, and they still don’t seem to have gotten their blue chip, potential franchise cornerstone since the draft.

But the Jazz, under Hardy, play with so much effort on both ends of the court. They have a legitimate star in Markkanen, and Keyonte George appears to be becoming a talented floor general for Utah. Their next game will be on Wednesday night when they face the Portland Trail Blazers at home.