Devin Booker (34 points), Suns continue dominance of Jazz

Field Level Media|published: Sun 12th January, 01:27 2025

Jan 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Devin Booker matched his season high with six 3-pointers and scored 34 points, Kevin Durant added 25 points and the Phoenix Suns never trailed in a 114-106 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Utah rallied from a 16-point, second-quarter deficit and trailed 91-88 with 8:36 left in the contest before Phoenix took control with an 11-0 run.

Grayson Allen made three straight 3-pointers during the burst and finished with 14 points off the bench. Phoenix improved to 3-2 since inserting Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee in the starting lineup in place of Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic.

Booker made his first seven shots and finished 12-for-20 from the field, including a 6-for-12 mark from 3-point range. Beal scored 12 points and Dunn added 10 for the Suns.

Lauri Markkanen paced the Jazz with 24 points. Collin Sexton scored 20 points, Walker Kessler chipped in 16 points and 13 rebounds and Svi Mykhailiuk and Cody Williams had 13 points apiece.

Utah shot 43.8 percent from the field and was 9-for-42 (21.4 percent) from 3-point range.

Drew Eubanks grabbed 11 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost for the eighth time in their past 10 games and fell to 3-22 against Western Conference foes this season.

Phoenix shot 51.2 percent from the field and was 13-for-37 (35.1 percent) from beyond the arc. Plumlee had 10 rebounds for the Suns, who won their ninth straight meeting with the Jazz.

Phoenix jumped out to a 14-3 lead and held a 31-27 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. Booker scored 10 points in the period.

The Suns stretched their lead to 54-38 with 4:32 left in the second quarter before Utah battled back to pull within 65-54 at the half.

Booker ended the first half with 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-5 performance from beyond the arc.

Utah opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run to cut its deficit to 67-66, but Dunn scored five straight points to help Phoenix regain control with a 10-2 spurt. The Suns took an 87-79 lead into the fourth quarter.

Utah played without Brice Sensabaugh (reconditioning), Johnny Juzang (right hand fracture), Keyonte George (left heel inflammation) and John Collins (left hip injury management).

--Field Level Media

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