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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Drops 17 points in preseason win
Rotowire
Markkanen finished with 17 points (5-12 FG, 4-4 FT, 3-7 3Pt), two rebounds and one steal in 16 minutes during Sunday's preseason win over the Nuggets.
Markkanen hit the ground running, fresh off an impressive performance in the recent World Cup qualifier. Despite another strong campaign during the 2025-26 season, Markkanen's overall fantasy value continues to be somewhat underrated, largely due to the fact that he has missed multiple stretches of games due to both injury and rest in each of the last three seasons. However, with Utah likely to prioritize winning this season, Markkanen is poised for what could be his best season in recent memory, at least from a totals perspective. Landing him in the third or fourth round of drafts feels like a relatively risk-free move.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Big double-double in FIBA action
Rotowire
Markkanen registered 21 points (6-13 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 25 minutes during Finland's 96-67 win over Estonia in Sunday's FIBA World Cup qualifier.
Markkanen looked sharp in Sunday's exhibition, recording a big double-double. The star forward delivered early-round fantasy value when healthy last year, having averaged 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.4 minutes per game across 42 regular-season appearances. His pathway to usage has a few more hurdles this time around, however, as Utah will be integrating Jaren Jackson and Darryn Peterson into the lineup.
Markkanen (hip) amassed 23 points (7-14 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 7-8 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 29 minutes during Finland's 85-77 win over Hungary on Friday.
Markkanen was out for roughly the final two months of the NBA regular season with a hip injury, but he looks to be entering the new year with a clean bill of health following a FIBA appearance. The star forward was excellent when healthy last year, having averaged 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.4 minutes across 42 games in 2025-26. However, it'll be interesting to see how Darryn Peterson's presence influences Markkanen's usage moving forward.
Utah's selection of Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft should help ease some offensive pressure on Markkanen (hip).
The veteran forward has often carried a significant scoring burden during the rebuilding process, and the arrival of an elite shot creator could create more favorable opportunities. Markkanen remains the focal point of Utah's frontcourt, although trade speculation and the team's long-term direction could still influence his outlook.
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