Lauri Markkanen's stats are down this season, but he says — and his coach agrees — that there's a good reason for that.

Lauri Markkanen scored 32 points and had a season-high three steals to lead the Utah Jazz to a 131-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Jordan Clarkson had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to help Utah end a three-game slide.

What a difference 48 hours make. On Monday, the L.A. Lakers blew away the Utah Jazz in Luka Doncic’ Laker debut. But Wednesday in Salt Lake City, it was all Jazz. Lauri Markkanen scored 32 points and had a season-high three steals to lead the Jazz to a 131-119 victory,

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka called Luka Doncic a 'gift' from the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz GM agrees with the narrative.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Salt Lake City.(Rob Gray / AP) The second game of Luka Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers tenure is in the books.

Luka Doncic has played two games for the Los Angeles Lakers after the blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks. While he's only spent a short amount of time with the franchise, Doncic made it clear he is a big fan of the team's head coach (JJ Redick) when he met with the media (after Wednesday's 131-119 loss to the Utah Jazz).