Surging Jazz take down Raptors with balanced attack

Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points and Jordan Clarkson added 21 as the Utah Jazz turned in a dominant performance in their season-high fourth straight win, beating the visiting Toronto Raptors 145-113 on Friday.

Collin Sexton had 20 points, Simone Fontecchio scored 13, Walker Kessler added 12, and Kelly Olynyk finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Utah, which won its seventh straight at home and improved to 10-2 overall in its last 12 games.

Pascal Siakam returned after missing one game with back spasms and led Toronto with 27 points. Scottie Barnes had 19 points, Immanuel Quickley and Jalen McDaniels had 15 apiece, and Dennis Schroder chipped in 12.

Toronto lost its fourth straight meeting against Utah, which led 105-85 after scoring 41 points in the third quarter.

RJ Barrett was held to four points on 2-of-9 shooting for the Raptors, who completed their six-game Western Conference road trip with a 2-4 mark.

Utah led 28-25 after the opening quarter and extended its lead to 56-41 on Olynyk's 3-pointer late in the second period. Sexton scored 14 points in the first half for the Jazz, who held a 64-47 advantage at intermission.

Barnes scored 15 points in the first half for Toronto, which entered the break shooting 36.1 percent while being outrebounded 31-14.

Utah stretched its lead to 80-56 on Sexton's trey early in the third quarter, but Siakam scored 18 points in the period to keep Toronto within striking distance.

Siakam finished 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 5 of 6 from 3-point range for Toronto, which trailed 117-93 after Utah guard Keyonte George dunked midway through the fourth quarter.

Utah shot 55.9 percent from the field, including 21 of 43 (48.8 percent) from 3-point range.

Toronto lost its third straight while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 17 of 34 (50 percent) from beyond the arc.

—Field Level Media