Fans go crazy as Lauri Markkanen hangs 49 points on Houston Rockets: "3rd participant in Jordan vs LeBron GOAT debate"

Lauri Markkanen dropped 49 points on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets. Markkanen is the latest NBA star to have an amazing game in the last few weeks. Fans went crazy online and shared their thoughts on the Utah Jazz forward.

Markkanen led the Jazz to a 131-114 victory over the Rockets at the Toyota Center. "The Finnisher" had 49 points, a career high, with eight rebounds and six 3-point shots made. He went 15-for-27 from the field and a perfect 13-for-13 from the free-throw line.

The Jazz jumped out to an early lead and were up by eight points at the end of the first quarter. They maintained their advantage before pulling away in the fourth quarter. The win halted Utah's five-game losing streak and improved their record to 20-21.

Lauri Markkanen is having a breakout campaign for the Utah Jazz. Markkanen could become an All-Star this season, averaging 24.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. With his 49-point performance on Thursday, fans went crazy for Markkanen.

Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter:

"At this point he’s a third participant in the Jordan vs LeBron GOAT debate."

"As a bulls fan this hurts that he is playing so well"

"Bro what they putting in these dudes water. Errybody been dropping 40 and 50 bombs nightly"

"thank god he left chicago… poverty ass bulls waste everyone’s talent"

"Cavs & Jazz still got a win win trade"

"He's playing incredible, hope he makes the AS reserves at least"

"This dude doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves."

"He's an All-star starter if he was on the Warriors or Lakers"

"Most underrated player in the league?"

"White people just get a boost playing for utah"

---

Lauri Markkanen helps Jazz end miserable 5-game losing streak

Kevin Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen

The Utah Jazz were on a five-game losing streak heading into Thursday's game against the Rockets. The Jazz went from being in a playoff spot down to the play-in places. Their streak started with a four-point loss to the lowly San Antonio Spurs on December 26.

They then lost to the Golden State Warriors by five points, followed by a one-point loss to the Sacramento Kings. The Miami Heat then beat them at the buzzer on New Year's Eve and then another heartbreaking defeat against the Kings on Tuesday happened.

De'Aaron Fox gave the Kings a two-point lead with 0.4 seconds left. Lauri Markkanen received a long inbounds pass and hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer. However, he was a fraction of a second late, so the basket didn't count. Markkanen said enough on Thursday as he carried the Jazz with 49 points.