After a challenging schedule to start the year, the Jazz finally returned to Salt Lake City for the first of six straight home games, beginning on Monday night.
Despite getting off to a great start and playing in front of a raucous crowd, Utah was plagued by turnovers and defensive rebounding down the stretch, falling 114-107 to Chicago.
"I thought for a good portion of the game we played the way we wanted to play," head coach Will Hardy said. "The third quarter, we were very flat on both ends. ... That's where the game was decided. I think we have to stick to what we are doing. … Everyone on our team has good intent."
Despite constantly finding success on offense late in the game, the Jazz struggled to gain possessions as Chicago controlled the boards on both ends of the court. The Bulls grabbed five offensive rebounds in the final five minutes, stalling any momentum or rhythm Utah might've been able to sustain at the end.
"Everybody wants to win. … It has to be a full 48 minutes of focus," Hardy said. "We have to continue to emphasize the way we play as a team. … We have to continue emphasizing rebounding as a team."
Before tipoff, it was unknown if Lauri Markkanen would even suit up against his former team. He suffered a right knee contusion on Saturday when colliding with Deandre Ayton, putting his status in question entering Monday.
Not only did he play, he was sensational.
Markkanen finished with 32 points and nine rebounds, shooting 12-of-18 from the field and 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. He was particularly dominant in the first half, dropping a career-high 24 points as the Bulls had no answer for his shooting from three-point territory.
"Lauri was very good, especially in the first half," Hardy said. "He's a really good player, very versatile. … Overall, I think Lauri did a good job of mixing up his game."
Knowing his ketchup with Nikola Vucevic would be a big one, Kelly Olynyk responded with an impressive all-around game.
He finished with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 5-for-10 from deep. He was particularly effective in the second half, either knocking down a three-pointer or putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim.
Playing with maybe a little extra pep in his step, Markkanen scored eight consecutive points for the Jazz as they opened up an early 10-4 lead.
After the Bulls cut the deficit to one, Utah responded with an 8-2 run, punctuated by a Talen Horton-Tucker three-pointer. However, Chicago answered with a 10-3 run to tie the game at 27 heading to the second.
Switching things up rotation-wise, Hardy elected to keep Markkanen at the start of the quarter to go against Chicago's second unit — and what a call that was. After the Bulls took a one-point lead, Markkanen sparked a 10-0 run with five points as the Jazz found a rhythm on offense.
Chicago would battle back, making it a five-point game with three minutes to go, but the Jazz rallied to hit three-pointers on three consecutive possessions.
Utah led 60-53 at the break.
Despite another Markkanen three-pointer and some pretty passing, Chicago took its first lead since the first quarter by going on a 17-5 run midway through the third. After the Bulls opened up an eight-point lead, another Markkanen three-pointer stopped the bleeding.
Still, Utah was outscored by 13 in the quarter and trailed 86-80 entering the fourth.
A bucket by Udoka Azubuike on Utah's opening possession was a good sign, but back-to-back turnovers and fast break buckets by the Bulls prompted an angry Hardy to call a timeout as the deficit grew to eight.
Two more turnovers made it a 12-point deficit, but buckets by Collin Sexton and Malik Beasley gave the Jazz life with just under nine to play. Utah cut the deficit to three with under five to play following a Beasley three-pointer and another bucket by Olynyk — but that was as close as it would get.
Sexton finished with 17 points and six assists, while Clarkson added eight points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
Utah returns to action on Wednesday night when they face the LA Clippers — tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
"It's about the group sticking together, staying focused on what we can control," Hardy said. "There is a lot of the game that we do control. ... Our approach, and our mental focus. That's what we need to focus on moving into this stretch of home games."