Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Earns Most Improved Player Award
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Markkanen has been named the 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News reports.
Markkanen showed significant improvement since his 2021 campaign with the Cavs, as he earned his first All-Star Game selection and was later named a starter. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 61 appearances for the Cavs a year ago compared to 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 66 contests this season with the Jazz. That includes 28 double-doubles (versus three in 2021-22) and 16 30-point performances (compared to just one in 2021-22). Markkanen earned 69 out of a possible 100 first-place votes.
Samanic closed his third season with averages of 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.0 minutes per game over seven contests.
Samanic was productive in his short time with the Jazz, who saw most of their main rotation players sitting to end the season. The third-year forward logged four consecutive starts to close out the campaign, averaging 13.0 points per game, including a career-high 23 points in a win over Denver on April 8. Due to his solid play, Samanic was able to secure a contract extension with the Jazz through the 2023-24 season.
Jazz's Simone Fontecchio: Comes off bench for 20 points
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Fontecchio provided 20 points (8-18 FG, 4-11 3Pt), nine rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes during Sunday's 128-117 loss to the Lakers.
Fontecchio was in a good rhythm between the second and third quarters, going 6-of-11 from the field over that stretch for 16 points, adding three rebounds and an assist. The rookie forward was unable to finish strong, however, knocking down just one of four field-goal attempts in the final period while missing all three of his attempts from downtown as the Jazz fell to the Lakers in their regular season finale. Fontecchio played 31 minutes off the bench and finished third on the team in scoring with 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, which trailed only Kris Dunn for the team lead.
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Jazz's Kelly Olynyk: Efficient night offensively
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Olynyk ended Sunday's 128-117 loss to the Lakers with 23 points (9-13 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, four assists and two blocks over 29 minutes.
Olynyk shot the ball well throughout the contest, knocking down 5-of-6 field-goal attempts in the first half before going 4-of-7 over the final two quarters as the Jazz fell to the Lakers to close out the regular season. He finished second on the team with 23 points to go along with five boards and four assists, though his four first-half turnovers also helped the Lakers jump out to an early lead. The big man finished out the season having scored 23 points in two of his final three games, while grabbing at least 14 rebounds in two of his last four.
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Jazz's Kris Dunn: Strong second-half performance
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Dunn chipped in 26 points (11-18 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists and one steal across 40 minutes during Sunday's 128-117 loss to the Lakers.
After struggling with his shot in the first half, Dunn became locked in over the final two quarters, hitting eight of nine shot attempts for 19 points while adding nine boards and three assists. The journeyman guard finished with a team and season-high 26 points and also led the Jazz with 10 rebounds on the night while tying Ochai Agbaji for the team lead in assists with eight. Playing extended minutes down the stretch with Utah no longer in the playoff hunt, Dunn closed out the season on a high point, averaging 18 points, 7.4 assists and six rebounds per game in April.
Agbaji was ejected in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Lakers after being assessed a pair of technical fouls, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Prior to being tossed early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup, Agbaji tallied eight points (4-13 FG, 0-3 3Pt), eight assists, a rebound and a steal in 27 minutes. The 22-year-old's ejection ends his rookie season in which he took on a starting role over his final 20 appearances. His role next season will likely depend on whether Jordan Clarkson (finger) exercises his player option for the 2023-24 campaign.
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Jazz's Juan Toscano-Anderson: Back to bench Sunday
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Toscano-Anderson is not starting Sunday against the Lakers, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Toscano-Anderson made a spot start Saturday against the Nuggets, but he'll head back to a bench role here. He's averaging 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game across 42 bench outings this season.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Out Sunday
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Markkanen (hand) will remain on the sidelines for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Lakers.
With Markkanen again watching from the sidelines Sunday, Ochai Agbaji should continue to take the lead on offense and there will be more minutes available for Simone Fontecchio and Luka Samanic. Agbaji is the most attractive target out of that group.
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Jazz's Jordan Clarkson: Not facing Lakers
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Clarkson (finger) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Lakers.
Clarkson was one of Utah's best players when healthy this season, but he'll end the year missing a 17th straight game due to a left finger sprain. The veteran guard ends the 2022-23 season averaging a career-best 20.8 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three-point range.
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Jazz's Rudy Gay: Out for finale
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Gay (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Lakers.
As expected, Gay will miss a 10th straight game to end the 2022-23 campaign. Across 56 appearances, the veteran forward averaged 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.6 minutes per game.
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Jazz's Collin Sexton: Not featuring Sunday
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Sexton (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lakers.
Sexton missed the final three games of the season due to a nagging hamstring injury, but that was probably the best decision since Utah has nothing to play for Sunday. Sexton ends his first season with the Jazz averaging 14.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game across 48 appearances (15 starts).
Horton-Tucker (ankle) won't suit up for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Lakers.
This will be the third straight game on the sidelines for THT, which should result in another start for Kris Dunn. Over the past two games, Dunn has come through with averages of 20.5 points, 11.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 triples, 2.0 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.0 turnovers per contest on 65.2 percent shooting.
