Lauri Markkanen Drops 51 Points, Ends 27-Year Jazz 50-Point Drought

On a cold October night in Salt Lake City, Lauri Markkanen didn’t just play basketball—he rewrote history. The 28-year-old Finnish forward erupted for 51 points, 14 rebounds, and six three-pointers, leading the Utah Jazz to a thrilling 138-134 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns at the Delta Center on October 27, 2025. It was the first time a Jazz player had cracked 50 points in a regular-season game since Karl Malone did it 27 years earlier. And unlike Malone’s quiet dominance, Markkanen’s performance was a spectacle—bloody lip, scratched arm, and all.

A Legacy Rekindled

For nearly three decades, the Utah Jazz had waited for someone to match Karl Malone’s 50-point masterpiece from January 27, 1998. Malone, a Hall of Famer and the face of the franchise, never had a 50-point game after that. Markkanen didn’t just break the drought—he shattered expectations. He entered the game averaging 24.3 points per contest this season, but no one—not even his coaches—saw this coming. Not with the Suns’ defense, not with the pace of the early season, not with the physical toll of back-to-back games.

But here’s the thing: Markkanen didn’t set out to make history. He was focused on winning. "You never think about, 'I'm going to go for 50,'" he said post-game, his voice hoarse, a bandage peeking out from under his jersey. "But when you’re at 47 in overtime and they’re fouling you… you start thinking, ‘Okay, this might actually happen.’" And it did.

The Game That Broke the Internet

The Delta Center, home to the Jazz since 1991, was electric from tip-off. The crowd—19,911 strong—rose to their feet every time Markkanen caught the ball beyond the arc. He hit his first three-pointer at 7:42 in the first quarter. By halftime, he had 28 points. By the end of regulation, 47. The Suns, led by Devin Booker (34 points, 10 assists), fought back with grit, tying the game at 128 on a pull-up jumper with 4.3 seconds left.

Overtime was pure chaos. Markkanen scored 4 straight points on free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Then, with 1:12 left and the Jazz up by two, he drained a step-back three over Jusuf Nurkić—his sixth of the night. The arena exploded. The Suns called timeout. The Jazz bench already had buckets ready.

When the final buzzer sounded, teammates sprinted toward him. Water poured over his head. Someone handed him the commemorative game ball. He smiled, exhausted, soaked, and grinning like a kid who just won the lottery.

Who Else Made It Happen?

Markkanen didn’t do it alone. Keyonte George, the 21-year-old point guard in his second NBA season, dropped 26 points on 8-for-18 shooting, including a crucial three in overtime that silenced the Suns’ comeback attempt. Rudy Gobert, though held to just 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots, anchoring the defense when the Jazz needed it most.

"I told him today, 'You should have a thousand points tonight, bro,'" George said afterward, laughing. "I’ve never seen anyone shoot like that. He wasn’t just hot—he was on another level. Like, what even is that?"

For the Suns, it was another frustrating loss. Booker, who’s been carrying Phoenix since Chris Paul’s departure, played 41 minutes and looked exhausted. "We knew he was dangerous," Booker admitted. "But we didn’t expect him to be unstoppable. We had the right guys on him. He just made the shots. That’s basketball."

Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score

Markkanen’s 51-point night wasn’t just a personal milestone—it’s a franchise turning point. The Jazz have been rebuilding since Donovan Mitchell’s trade in 2022. They’ve drafted well, developed young talent, and quietly built a team with depth. But until now, they hadn’t had a signature performance that screamed, "We’re back."

Markkanen’s rise from a mid-first-round pick in 2017 to a 50-point scorer in Salt Lake City is the kind of story that revitalizes a fanbase. He’s not flashy. He doesn’t do dunks on Instagram. He just shoots. And he shoots. And he shoots. And when the moment calls for it, he makes them all.

This also puts him in rare company. He’s the fourth player in the 2025-26 season to reach 50 points, joining Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Nikola Jokić. But unlike those superstars, Markkanen plays in a smaller market, on a team that doesn’t get national TV slots every week. That makes it more impressive. It’s a quiet revolution.

What’s Next?

The Jazz (2-1) head into a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets—both playoff contenders. Markkanen’s next challenge? Can he sustain this? Can he carry this kind of scoring load night after night? His previous career high was 49 points, set in January 2023 during his lone All-Star appearance. Now, he’s surpassed it by two points—and it feels like just the beginning.

For the Suns (1-3), the questions are more urgent. Can they fix their defense? Can Booker get more help? And will this loss become a turning point—or a sign of deeper issues?

Historical Context: The Long Wait

Before Markkanen, only six Jazz players had ever scored 45+ points in a regular-season game. Malone did it seven times. John Stockton hit 46 in 1989. Darrell Griffith, the original "Dr. Dunkenstein," once dropped 48 in 1984. But after Malone’s 50 in ’98, the franchise entered a 27-year drought. No one came close—not even Donovan Mitchell, who peaked at 48 in 2021.

Markkanen didn’t just end that drought—he did it with a style that feels uniquely modern: a 7-footer who shoots like a guard, moves like a wing, and has the poise of a veteran. He’s the perfect symbol of today’s NBA: tall, skilled, and lethal from anywhere.