Chicago Bulls rookie big man Lauri Markkanen has mad hops. Just ask New York Knicks center Enes Kanter, whom Markkanen paid zero respect for when he went up for a disrespectful in-your-face slam on Wednesday that was so vicious Kanter’s relatives in Turkey might have felt it.
Lauri Markkanen just ENDED Enes Kanter like Finland beat Turkey in something at some point pic.twitter.com/mmAHLxB92I
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) January 11, 2018
Showing a great ability to read opponents’ defense, Markkanen took advantage of a porous defensive set-up by the Knicks at one point in the third quarter. With the Knicks lazily backpedaling on defense, Markkanen decided to drive hard to the basket via the baseline. Kanter already knew what Markkanen was up to, but he was just too slow to react. By the time Kanter met Markkanen at the rim, it was too late.
It was the perfect memento of this game for Markkanen, who is having a huge night at Madison Square Garden. The 20-year-old Arizona product ended the game with a has a career-high 33 points on 10-of-22 shooting line from the field, which includes a spectacular performance from beyond the arc. Markkanen drilled in eight of 15 attempt from the 3-point area so far. He also had 10 rebounds and two steals to go with a block.
The game went to double overtime, thanks to Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis’ buzzer-beating dunk to end the first extra session. The Bulls prevailed in the end, 122-119.
Markkanen entered the game averaging 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game.
After this date with the Knicks, Lauri Markkanen and the Bulls will head back home for a showdown with the Detroit Pistons at United Center on Saturday.
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