Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
Sarah Todd
By Sarah Todd
Sarah Todd covers the NBA and Utah Jazz for the Deseret News.

DETROIT — The Utah Jazz beat the Detroit Pistons, 126-111, on Tuesday night behind a career-high tying night from Lauri Markkanen.

After two really physical and disappointing losses on this road trip, the Jazz finished it off the right way in Detroit, despite visiting the Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back.

Here are three keys that contributed to the Jazz’s victory:

  • Markkanen previously set his career-high of 38 points earlier this season, on Nov. 18 in a 134-133 win over the Phoenix Suns. He matched the 38-point mark on Tuesday night, going 13-of-20 from the field and setting a new career-high for 3-pointers made in a single game, going 9-of-13 from deep.
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Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt (8) dunks next to Detroit Pistons guard Alec Burks (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Marvin Bagley III (35) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) grabs a rebound next to Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen and center Walker Kessler (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) drives as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Utah Jazz guard Leandro Bolmaro (10) passes around Detroit Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo (6) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Utah Jazz guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6) reaches in and knocks the ball away from Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Detroit Pistons guard Alec Burks (5) runs into Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
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Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt (8) is defended b yDetroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) | Carlos Osorio, Associated Press
  • Jarred Vanderbilt had one of his better games of the season, adding 18 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Jazz’s win.
  • When the Pistons were making a push, Mike Conley settled things in the third quarter, generating shots for everyone on the floor and creating some space that had started to deteriorate for the Jazz. He finished the night with seven points and seven assists, which isn’t a stat line that jumps out on the box score, but he was instrumental in the Jazz building a substantial lead.
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