Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, left, guards against Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen had 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz to a 139-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. Rookie center Walker Kessler scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds for Utah. Jordan Clarkson had 19 points and Collin Sexton added 18 as the Jazz shot 55% from the field and matched a season high for points. Myles Turner scored 18 points to lead Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Smith added 14 apiece, but the Pacers lost for the third time in four games on their road trip. Utah used efficient offense and stingy defense to take control before halftime. The Jazz shot 63% from the floor in the first half and made nine 3-pointers. They held the Pacers without a basket for three minutes in the first quarter to build a 35-21 lead. Indiana erased the deficit in the second, tying it on Smith’s layup, but Utah didn’t let the

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jordan Clarkson had a season-high 33 points and five assists, and the Utah Jazz snapped a five-game losing streak with a 125-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Collin Sexton added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Jazz. Lauri Markkanen chipped in 23 points and nine rebounds. Jarred Vanderbilt added 14 points and 12 rebounds. John Wall finished with a season-high 26 points off the bench to lead Los Angeles. Reggie Jackson added 15 points for the Clippers, who lost despite outscoring Utah 65-22 in bench points. The Clippers erased a double-digit deficit with a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter and took a 45-43 lead on a tip-in basket from Ivica Zubac that punctuated the run. Clarkson made baskets on three straight possessions to energize the Jazz and put Utah back in front. Los Angeles countered with a 9-0 run, capped by back-to-back baskets by Wall and raced to a

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — DeMar DeRozan had 26 points and six assists to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 114-107 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Zach LaVine added 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Lauri Markkanen scored 32 points for the Jazz. Kelly Olynyk added 23 points and Collin Sexton chipped in 17. Utah lost its fifth straight. DeRozan scored 12 points and assisted on three baskets in the third quarter. He bookended a 10-0 run with a pair of free throws, giving the Bulls a 78-73 lead. Chicago scored three straight baskets off steals to ignite an 8-0 run and extend its lead to 94-82 early in the fourth quarter. Andre Drummond capped the run with back-to-back baskets. Chicago finished 22 of 25 from the free throw line. Markkanen gave Utah an early spark on offense. He made nine of his first 10 shots

Utah Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk (41) gets fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) PHOENIX (AP) — There was much debate during the NBA offseason about whether Deandre Ayton was worth a max contract. On nights like Saturday, the answer is a resounding yes. Ayton notched season highs with 29 points and 21 rebounds, Devin Booker added 27 points and the Phoenix Suns held on for a hard-fought 113-112 win over the Utah Jazz. The Jazz led 81-78 after three quarters, but the Suns pushed ahead 99-93 by midway through the fourth. The game remained tight through the final minutes, but Phoenix never lost the lead. On top of Ayton’s scoring and rebounding, he also had a crucial steal in the final minutes that helped thwart a final Jazz rally. “I don’t know what he ate for Thanksgiving,” Booker said. “I should have been over there.” Ayton grabbed his 21st rebound of the game on the final possession, securing Booker’s miss off a 3-pointer to keep the Jazz from a final possession. Ayton signed a four-year, $133 million deal during the offseason

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives past Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/John Hefti) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As Klay Thompson stays patient searching for his shot, the Golden State Warriors’ offense starts humming along like days of old. The snappy ball movement matters for the defending champions as they still strive to find defensive consistency. “It’s been fun to watch,” coach Steve Kerr said. “… “I loved Klay’s game tonight.” Stephen Curry scored 33 points with six 3-pointers to lead all five Golden State starters in double figures, and the Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 129-118 on Friday night. Andrew Wiggins added 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals coming off a season-best 31 points in a 124-107 win against the Clippers on Wednesday. Thompson hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third quarter and six on the night to finish with 20 points and six rebounds, while Kevon Looney contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds. Draymond Green scored 13 points. Thompson is certainly finding his rhythm after a slow start. “That’s really key for us when he

Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt (8) in the first half during an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jeff Swinger) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Kevin Knox II had a season-high 21 points, including a career-best six 3-pointers, to boost the Detroit Pistons to their second straight road win, 125-116 over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. Marvin Bagley III scored a season-high 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting and Alec Burks added 18 points for the Pistons, who were missing Cade Cunningham (shin), Saddiq Bey (ankle) and Isaiah Stewart (toe). “It was big time. Every guy that is playing brought something to the table. Even if we are missing guys, we played great together with who we have,” Bogdanovic said. The Pistons had lost seven in a row overall and 10 straight on the road before beating Denver on Tuesday, their first away victory this season. Despite playing back-to-back, the Pistons were quicker to the loose balls and seemed to grab all the 50-50 rebounds. “Our togetherness brought us extra energy. That was a huge win last night and gave

Los Angeles Clippers forward Norman Powell, right, shoots as Utah Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Kawhi Leonard still working his way back and Paul George sidelined, the Los Angeles Clippers need the rest of the roster to pick up the slack. Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson did their part Monday night with season-high point totals. Powell came off the bench to score 30 and Jackson added 27 as the Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Utah Jazz 121-114. “I give the team credit. No matter who’s on the floor, we always feel like we have a chance to win,” coach Tyronn Lue said after the Clippers won their third straight. “It’s tough some nights and it’s not pretty every night, but we always seem to try to find a way to get it done. Different guys are stepping up every single night. “I thought at the end of the game, Norman and Reggie really brought this home offensively.” Leonard, who missed last season with a knee injury, had eight points and five

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson reacts after scoring to give the team the lead against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jordan Clarkson scored 28 points, including eight straight in the final 1:48, in the Utah Jazz’s 118-113 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Malik Beasley had 29 points off the bench to help Utah take the Western Conference lead at 12-6. Anfernee Simons led Portland with 23 points. Both teams lost their starting point guards in the second half. After colliding into a screen, Utah’s Mike Conley left with a left knee injury with 10:22 left in the third quarter. Not long after Conley exited, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard went to the locker room and did not return because of tightness in his right calf. Lillard has missed five games so far this season with the calf strain. FAN REMOVED During an injury timeout in the second quarter, a pair of fans were removed from the game. Utah’s Collin Sexton pointed the fan out to security after exchanging words with him. Security then came