The Phoenix Suns took the Arizona heat to Utah Friday as the Suns survive a 134-126 shootout against the Utah Jazz.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Suns ended their three-game losing streak and got back in the win column for the first time since superstar Kevin Durant was sidelined with a left ankle sprain. In Durant’s return, he and Devin Booker combined for 64 points and 16 assists as Bradley Beal missed the game with right knee swelling.
Phoenix lost 10 of its last 14 games entering Friday’s duel with Utah and lost Durant (ankle), Jusuf Nurkic (thigh) and Ryan Dunn (ankle) at various points of that stretch. However, due to an extended break between games due to NBA Cup scheduling, all three key players returned to the lineup against the Jazz.
The mindset of the locker room following a treacherous three-game road losing streak was “urgent” heading into Friday’s game. Phoenix came into the game with a sense of aggression emblematic of a team eager to turn the season around as soon as possible.
Here are the key takeaways from the Suns flipping the script against Utah:
– Bradley Beal was downgraded to OUT with right knee swelling just an hour before tip-off. Tonight was Beal’s ninth missed game of the season. The three-time All-Star is averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season.
– Kevin Durant (in true fashion as of late) cashed his first shot back from injury, a left-corner three, which was one of three-straight 3-pointers the Suns made to start the night. The Jazz kept pace, though, and tied the Suns 11-11 to begin the game.
– Devin Booker looked like himself again upon the return of multiple rotation players, scoring 12 points on 5-for-8 and 2-for-3 shooting from the field and beyond the arc respectively.
– Both teams started off blazing, shooting a combined 13-for-19 from three in the first. The Jazz led the Suns 39-39 after the opening quarter.
– Durant looked spry in his return from injury. With 7:28 remaining in the second quarter, he almost put Lauri Markkanen on a fastbreak poster that sent Durant to the free throw line. Durant made both and the Suns trailed 55-51 as the teams extended their white hot starts.
– Between players like Durant and Beal in and out of the lineup, Booker has since returned to his usual routine of playing the entire first quarter and closing the second. With Phoenix healthier, it has worked out great for Booker. Immediately after checking in halfway through the second quarter, Booker made a midrange jumper and a fastbreak 3-pointer that extended a 12-0 Suns run putting them up 63-58 with 4:38 remaining.
– The Suns scored the most first half points in a game so far this season, leading the Jazz 76-71 at the end of two quarters. 71, however, is also the most points that Utah has scored in a first half this season. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 41 points on 13-for-23 from the field. Both teams scored a combined 25 threes before halftime.
– Tyus Jones gave Phoenix stellar production tonight, boasting 19 points, three rebounds and nine assists shooting 6-for-9 from the field.
– A familiar theme in the Suns’ last three losses were collapses in the third quarter. Though Phoenix didn’t “collapse” per se, they were able to maintain their offensive intensity despite Utah remaining hot as well, outscoring the scorching Jazz 36-34 after halftime and leading them 112-105 ahead of the final quarter.
– A Royce O’Neale dagger 3-pointer with 21 seconds left put his former team away for good for the night, it was Phoenix’s 22nd made three of 45 attempts on the night. The Suns topped the Jazz 134-126 and ended their three-game losing streak despite valiant efforts from Utah forward John Collins (22 points) and bench spark Jordan Clarkson (23 points).
– Phoenix looks to notch another one in the win column Sunday in the Valley against the Portland Trail Blazers for the first or a three-game home stand spanning a week.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
