Markkanen’s previous career high was 49 points in 2023.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) celebrates their 138-134 win over the Phoenix Suns, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 27 2025.

For the first time in 27 years, a Utah Jazz player has scored 50 points in a regular-season game. They needed every one of them, too.

Lauri Markkanen’s 51-point, 14-rebound performance pushed the Jazz to an overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

To get his first career 50-point game, Markkanen shot 14-for-32 from the field, including 6-of-13 from deep. He also made 17 free throws.

It’s the first regular-season 50-point game for the Jazz since Karl Malone’s 56-point game against the Golden State Warriors on April 7, 1998. (Donovan Mitchell had two 50-point games with the Jazz, but both came in the playoffs.)

“I was wishing, trying to end the game in regulation, the legs are kind of tired at that point, but couldn’t get it done,” Markkanen said. “But I guess it was an opportunity for this.”

The 28-year-old Finnish forward thanked his teammates for the performance — especially Keyonte George, who had 10 assists in the game.

“I always credit to my teammates, they put me in great positions, and you just gotta knock down some shots and stay aggressive,” Markkanen said.

Markkanen’s previous high was 49 points.

“He works really hard on his game. I think tonight we saw some of the physicality in the midrange,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said.