Lauri Markkanen scores career high 33 points in double OT win over Knicks

Former Arizona Wildcat standout and seventh overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Lauri Markkanen is becoming a superstar for the Chicago Bulls. He scored a career high 33 points in a double overtime win over the New York Knicks.

The Finnisher lived up to his name against the New York Knicks!  Lauri Markkanen scored a career high 33 points, had 10 rebounds, eight 3-pointers and secured a double overtime win for Chicago Bulls 122-119 over the Knicks. This is what you call a statement game!

Many greats have worn that white and red jersey over the last several decades. Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose just to name a few. Markkanen is making a case very earlier on in his career that he wants to be part of that list!

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In Markkanen’s rookie season he has been wowing fans from all over with his amazing shooting touch from 3-point range. Very early on this season, he had set several NBA 3-point records, including the most three pointers made in the first six games of a NBA career with 17, say what?!

Against the Knicks, he did it again, scoring eight 3- pointers, and ties  Dirk Nowitzki for the most threes scored by a 7-footer in NBA History!

How in the world can you leave him so wide open on most of those 3- pointers?! Coach Sean Miller would not be happy about that defense. What makes Markkanen’s 3-point shot so amazing to watch is how fluid and smooth his release is. He seems very confident and relaxed when shooting the ball.

Not only can he shoot the ball, but apparently he can DUNK IT! Now that’s how you posterize someone!

The Knicks 7-foot European superstar, Kristaps Porzingis, had 24 points and six rebounds but it was not enough to overcome the onslaught of offensive from Markkanen and the Bulls. The FInnisher now leads the head to head matchup 3-0 over Porzingis.

There is still plenty of NBA basketball to be played, but with Markkanen’s performance tonight he deserves to be in the talk for NBA Rookie of the Year. He currently sits in fourth among current NBA rookies in points per game in less minutes than those players above him:

Overall this season, his stats have been impressive. In 39 games played, Markkanen has averaged 14.9 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game and is shooting .357 on his 3-pointers.  Not only does he lead the Bulls in rebounding, but his versatility and size on the offensive end makes it a challenge for most teams to guard. Markkanen is listed as a power forward, but at times the way he plays it’s almost as if he shooting be a shooting guard.

One other element of Markkanen’s game that get’s overlooked is his approach to the game. He never really seems to get to upset at himself ,never gets intimated by the atmosphere and lives for high pressure moments. It was his first NBA game inside the famous Madison Square Garden and he rose to the occasion!

Lauri has a fan in LeBron James:

https://twitter.com/vspandia/status/951285998587179008

With the addition of Zach LaVine coming back into the lineup, the Bulls have a chance if not this year, but next to be a contender in the Eastern Conference.  It has been many years since Bulls fan have had something exciting to cheer about. Now they finally have that with The Finnisher.

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At Zona Zealots, we are extremely proud of Markkanen’s career high performance. Wildcat fans from all over the globe couldn’t be prouder to see one of their own setting records in the NBA. Way to Bear Down Lauri!