Jazz fall to Knicks in NYC as Cody Williams has a 36-point game with the Stars

NEW YORK — Lauri Markkanen shot an uncharacteristic 1-of-10 from 3-point range on Wednesday.

That was just one of the reasons things got away from the Utah Jazz in a 119-103 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden as the team dropped its fifth straight game.

There's no doubt, though, that the next game Markkanen, who has finished a hair under 40% from deep in each of his two seasons with the Jazz, will get the chance to keep on firing — as he should.

Younger players often don't get that type of opportunity, like, for example, rookie wing Cody Williams.

Williams is averaging just 4.1 shot attempts per game and 2.2 3-point field goals with the Jazz this season. That's why Utah head coach Will Hardy believes G League games are so important for players' development; it moves them up the food chain and gets the ball in their hands.

Case in point: Wednesday's Salt Lake City Stars game.

As the Jazz were in New York, Williams was in West Valley City playing what may be his best game as a professional. He had 36 points and was 5-of-8 from 3-point range to lead the Stars to a win over Rio Grande Valley.

In total, he shot 62% on 21 shots, showing an offensive aggressiveness that has often eluded him during his rookie season.

Hardy has urged Williams to play with more force — on both ends of the courts. He wants to see him be stronger with the ball offensively; and he showed glimpses of that on Wednesday. He looked for his spots, hunted for shots and made the key baskets down the stretch.

"It doesn't mean you have to be overly strong to be physical — there's a difference," Hardy said. "Like, when he does those things, he puts himself in a position where his decision-making shows up."

And good thing there's a difference, because, well, Williams isn't too big yet.

"I definitely do extra lifts," Williams said. "I'm lifting here with the Jazz a lot. It's hard during the season to put weight on, but they're trying to keep me strong. So in the offseason, that's when I can start just putting on weight and really lifting heavy. So I guess you can say they are prepping me for the offseason."

And in the G League, he's prepping for a bigger role with the Jazz.

"I don't look at it like, 'Oh, I'm not gonna shoot it,' because you don't want to not be ready when the ball comes to you and it's your time to make plays," Williams said.

The Jazz could have used a few more plays like that in New York. The Jazz shot 30% from 3-point range and 40% from the field.

"Going 13-for-43 from 3 is not what I would expect. Lauri being 1-for-10 is not what I would expect," Hardy said. "Some nights, the reality is when you generate those good looks from 3, you go to knock them down to keep the momentum and the balance of the game."

The Jazz didn't, and eventually the Knicks pulled away.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 31 points and 21 rebounds for the Knicks, and Josh Hart had a triple-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson both had 25 points to lead the Jazz. Sexton was 10-of-13 from the field, continuing his strong run of play as of late.

Sexton mixed an efficient 3-ball (he went 4-of-5) with his usual strong drive game to help keep the Jazz in striking distance for much of the night.

"Collin's efficiency continues to stand out," Hardy said. "He's doing a really good job of mixing his threat at the rim and seeing the 3s off the dribble."

"He's settling in and understanding there's a lot of different ways that he can get it done," Hardy continued. "There are lineups with us where he has the ball more. There's also some moments where he's playing more off ball. So I think he's found a really good balance in terms of ways that he can generate shots."

And he actually made those shots. Most of his teammates couldn't say the same thing.

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