Jazz's Markkanen Remains Confident After Loss to Clippers

Lauri Markkanen sees positives despite Utah's defeat, looks to regain rhythm after illness

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:47am

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The Utah Jazz fell short against the LA Clippers 115-103, but Lauri Markkanen, who returned after missing seven games due to illness, remains confident in his team's ability to compete with top NBA squads. Markkanen scored 19 points and had 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while teammate Ace Bailey led the Jazz with 20 points. Despite the loss, Markkanen believes the Jazz showed they can play well against talented teams, but need to maintain focus for the full 48 minutes to secure victories.

Why it matters

The Jazz's loss to the Clippers highlights their ongoing struggle to maintain consistency, especially on the defensive end, against elite NBA teams. However, Markkanen's positive outlook suggests the team believes they can compete at a high level when fully healthy and focused, which is an important mindset as they look to make a playoff push.

The details

Markkanen returned to the lineup after missing seven games due to illness, and while he shot just 5-15 from the field, he was second on the team in scoring with 19 points. The Jazz led 54-53 at halftime, but a defensive lapse in the third quarter allowed the Clippers to pull away. Markkanen acknowledged the team's struggles to maintain focus and execution for the full 48 minutes, which has been an issue for the Jazz this season against top opponents.

  • The Jazz and Clippers faced off on January 27, 2026.

The players

Lauri Markkanen

A forward for the Utah Jazz who returned to the lineup after missing seven games due to illness.

Ace Bailey

A player for the Utah Jazz who led the team in scoring with 20 points in the loss to the Clippers.

Keyonte George

A co-star of Lauri Markkanen who was not in the lineup for the Jazz against the Clippers.

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What they’re saying

“I think we've shown that we're capable of playing against good teams, and winning those games. I think we had a good first half, and then our focus was slipped away in the third quarter. Then you're playing catch up. And, obviously, against good teams, it's tough to do.”

— Lauri Markkanen (si.com)

“I think we had a couple of slip-ups on defensive end in a row, and good teams make you pay for it. Then, they make three threes in a row or whatever, and it doesn't feel good, obviously. It's tough to come back from.”

— Lauri Markkanen (si.com)

What’s next

Markkanen will look to continue regaining his rhythm as he gets more playing time, and the Jazz will aim to shore up their defensive consistency as they try to secure more wins against top NBA teams.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, Markkanen's positive outlook suggests the Jazz believe they can compete with the league's elite when healthy and focused. However, the team's ongoing struggle to maintain defensive intensity for a full game remains a key area that needs improvement as they push for a playoff spot.