Getting back into winning ways with Kevin Durant back from injury, the Phoenix Suns broke a three-game losing streak by being victorious in a 3-point clinic, 134-126 over the Utah Jazz.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Providing a massive boost to the Suns (13-11) who are 1-9 without Durant, he amassed 30 points and eight assists in the win while Devin Booker dropped a game-high 34 points. Tyus Jones recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
While Bradley Beal was ruled out with right knee swelling pregame, it was raining 3s in Delta Center as Phoenix was 22-for-45 (48.9%) and Utah shot 22-for-39 (56.4%) from behind the arch.
Also in their return from injury, Jusuf Nurkić posted 12 points to go along with seven rebounds and Ryan Dunn contributed 13 points in 13 minutes of play. Back against his former team, Royce O’Neale scored 17 points.
Here are three takeaways from the Suns offense besting the Jazz in a 3-point thriller:
Durant returns, effective as ever
The Suns are 12-2 when Durant plays compared to the aforementioned 1-9 record when he doesn’t, proving how vital he has been for the team this season amidst other players sidelined with injuries.
Stepping back out onto the court for the first time after a three-game absence, Durant was 8-for-17 (47.1%) from the field, 2-for-5 (40%) from deep and made all of his 12 free throws. On the defensive side, he provided three rebounds, a steal and a block.
Having Durant back saw other players find their shooting touch as well as distributing the ball from man to man crisply. Even though defense came at a premium in this 3-point shootout, the Suns were able to get the stops they needed in order to win.
“This was definitely an offensive game by both teams knocking down 3s, and there are going to be games like that for us,” Durant said postgame. “Its definitely a game where you just gotta take that punch and keep grinding.”
Video Credit: Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
"I don't worry about Booker at all. 15,000 points for a reason."
Kevin Durant as Devin Booker game-high 34 in Suns win at Jazz.
Durant 30 in 34 minutes in return after missing 3 games with left ankle sprain.
Suns 12-2 with Durant.
On how ankle felt after game: "Great." #Suns pic.twitter.com/dvq6jIEQsk
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 14, 2024
Durant did not look like he was dealing with an injury by the way he was moving, creating plays and scoring. Despite there being a possibility he would be placed on a minutes restriction, the two-time NBA champion played 34 minutes in his first game back and netted 19 points in the first half.
Jumping from the No. 10 to the No. 8 seed, the Suns will hope Durant stays healthy and impactful because if he goes down again, the results tend to not go in Phoenix’s favor this season.
Booker finds shooting touch
Durant’s comeback brought out a lot of positives around the team, especially an offensive explosion by Booker.
With all but Beal playing, the Kentucky product benefitted from a team that was just about full strength. Since every bucket was crucial with how well the Jazz were shooting, Booker wasn’t hesitant to shoot and made his attempts count.
Firing at just a 5-for-21 (23.8%) clip from 3 during the three-game losing skid, Booker went 6-for-13 (46.2%) in Utah. Known for having monstrous performances inside Delta Center, he has had three 40-plus-point games including one where he went off for 59 in 2019, an arena record.
Over the past few games, there have been inconsistent stretches where Booker may develop an offensive flow before being nullified in another. Practically carrying Phoenix on his back without Durant, the team as a whole has been on the wrong side of the fine margins deciding its previous losses.
Maybe he just has a real knack for playing in Salt Lake City.
But in all honesty, seeing Booker rise over the 30-point mark and gain more confidence as the game went on is a promising sign of what is to come now that Durant is next to him.
“It’s just one game, try to string some together,” Booker said. “We have another early one on Sunday, so we had a good flow and could do better on defense. A tough stretch without them (Durant, Dunn and Nurkić) but I think we got a little bit better.”
"It's just one game. Try to string some together."
Devin Booker after 34-piece (6-of-13 on 3s) in Suns win over at Jazz.
On rookie Ryan Dunn 13 points, hitting two 3s off his assists after missing 3 games: "I'm going to encourage him to shoot those shots every time.," #Suns pic.twitter.com/qdnHbFdTG0
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 14, 2024
Keeping turnovers low was game-changing
Phoenix had 50 turnovers combined in the last three games where the team was leading at halftime and lost in each.
In Utah, the Suns kept that number to just seven.
Turnovers have been a key for the team to lessen as multiple players have spoken throughout the season about how important they are to a win and a loss.
Dec 13, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) shoots over Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the third quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
There was a fast pace to the way Phoenix was passing when the players did not force too many unnecessary plays, kept it simple and found an open teammate away from a Jazz defender. To illustrate how important this was to the game, Utah turned the ball over 15 times.
Both centers Nurkić and Mason Plumlee gave it away twice each, but the rest of the Suns finished with only three.
If they can keep the number of turnovers below 10 a game, the Suns could reap the rewards of playing smart while maintaining its free-flowing offense.
Suns fans react to Kevin Durant’s return, winning sharpshooting battle 134-126 over Jazz
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Suns, ASU Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
