The Phoenix Suns are now 9-2 on the year and 1-0 in NBA Cup group play after defeating the Utah Jazz (2-8) 120-112 on the road.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix, without Kevin Durant (left calf strain) and Jusuf Nurkić (left ankle soreness), led by as much as 18 in the victory.
This was the first game of the group stage of the NBA Cup for both teams, who are in West Group C. Phoenix also plays the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road on Friday (Nov. 15) and then hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 26 and San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 3.
Beginning their Emirates NBA Cup 2024 run, Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns beat the Utah Jazz 120-112, improving to 9-2 on the year.#SunsUp #NBA #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/yuFu6HYCNF
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) November 13, 2024
Here are some initial takeaways from the victory:
– The Suns needed a convincing win after seemingly playing a close game every night so far and for point differential purposes in the NBA Cup. The Jazz stuck around for most of the night, and Phoenix ultimately could not pull off a double-digit win, leaving them with still only one on the year.
– Devin Booker finally broke out of his shooting slump, looking rejuvenated after battling an illness. Booker had 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, shooting 11-for-20 from the floor overall and 5-for-9 from 3, to go along with four assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
– Bradley Beal continued his efficient play with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting (4-of-7 from 3), four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block. Beal subbed out with seven minutes to go and did not return (no update as to why yet).
– Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro really stepped up without Nurkić. Plumlee had his first double-double of the year with 15 points (6-of-9 shooting), 14 rebounds, two assists and a block in 26 minutes in his first start of the year. Ighodaro had a career-high 12 boards to go along with six points (3-of-5 shooting) and two blocks in 21 minutes off the bench.
– It was a block party in Utah, as the Suns tied a season-high with 11 blocks on the night, led by Royce O’Neale’s three.
– Like Booker, Grayson Allen also got out of his shooting slump with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (4-for-9 from deep).
– Both teams were crashing the offensive glass hard with the Suns totaling 10 offensive rebounds and Utah recording 12.
– Tyus Jones (eight points and seven assists) had an uncharacteristic three turnovers for the game, but the Suns only had 10 turnovers as a team.
– John Collins proved to be a problem for Phoenix all night, as he finished with 29 points (12-of-19 shooting, 3-of-6 from 3), nine rebounds and four assists.
The Suns will now travel to Sacramento to play the Kings tomorrow night on the second night of a back to back. Sacramento beat Phoenix 127-118 in overtime Sunday.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
