Markkanen scores 25 as Jazz beat Hornets, who make only 2 3s

SALT LAKECITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and theUtah Jazz beat the cold-shooting Charlotte Hornets 120-102 onMonday night.

The Hornetsmade only two 3-pointers, both by Terry Rozier, the fewest by anNBA team this season. Charlotte had 16 attempts beyond the arc,shooting 12.5%, while the Jazz made 16 of 40. The previous low forCharlotte this season was five 3s, most recently on Dec. 3 atMilwaukee.

“We saw athalftime they weren’t making their 3s, so our focus was just toprotect the paint and take away what they wanted to do,” Markkanensaid.

JordanClarkson scored 18 points and Mike Conley added 14 for the Jazz,who have won three of four.

Rozier scored23 points and Mason Plumlee had 18 for the Hornets, who were tryingto win three straight games for the first time this season.

“We’ve beeninside-out all year. I believe we’re like fourth or fifth in drivesinto the paint per game. We haven’t shot the ball well from 3.Tonight we didn’t get many 3s,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford saidof his team, which ranks at the bottom of the league in 3-pointshooting.

Charlotte’sleading scorer, LaMelo Ball, missed his second game with ankle andwrist soreness. Dennis Smith Jr. had 15 points and nine assists forthe Hornets.

Utah led by10 after three quarters before going on an 18-4 run, punctuated byWalker Kessler’s dunk, to make it 107-83 with 6:07 to play.

“We let themdictate too much on the defensive end. I feel like we didn’t getenough good shots and kind of let the game get away from us there,”Charlotte’s Gordon Hayward said.

The Jazz ranthe Hornets off the 3-point line and conceded long 2-point jumpersand wild drives to the basket.

“Our teamreally executed on the defensive end. Our guys did a great job ofswitching and disrupting their offense,” Utah coach Will Hardysaid.

Meanwhile,the Jazz used crisp passing to find open 3-point shooters anddrives through the lane.

Eleven ofUtah’s first 15 field goals were 3s, while the Hornets missed theirfirst seven tries from long range. The Jazz led 58-45 at halftimedespite having made three fewer field goals.

“My stuffcomes off running into screens or off ball screens. Our team does agreat job finding mismatches we like,” said Markkanen, who alsograbbed 11 rebounds. “I don’t need to shoot it each time because ifthey double, I can find shooters for 3s.”

The Jazzextended their home winning streak over the Hornets to 16.

JANUARYDOLDRUMS

The game wasplayed without a lot of emotion and the Jazz led by double-digitsmost of the way.

“Fatiguestarts to set in around the 50-game mark and guys legs are gettingheavy. The mental and the emotional fatigue is real. ... At thistime of year, everything about the NBA is telling your brain torelax,” Hardy said.

Players startmaking plans for the All-Star break and injuries start to add up,making for some unenthusiastic midseason games.

“It’s theweirdest part of the season right now. The trade deadline is comingand you’ve played a lot of games ... so you your mind can get alittle bit jumbled, when your body’s already worn down a littlebit,” Conley said.

TIP-INS

Hornets:Because of injuries, Hayward played just his fourth game at Utahsince spending his first seven seasons with the Jazz. He finishedwith 11 points. ... Rozier made Charlotte’s first 3-pointer of thegame with 10:51 left in the third quarter. ... The Hornetsoutscored the Jazz 22-15 on the fast break.

Jazz: The40-foot big screens above the court facing each sideline wereinoperable. ... After the game, Clarkson gave his jersey to rapperYG, who sat courtside. ... Ochai Agbaji flipped in the air on anacrobatic dunk attempt in the third quarter and landed awkwardly.He returned with in the fourth with tape on his left wrist.