Kevin Durant's return helps spark Suns to win over Jazz

Devin Booker put up a game-high 34 points and Kevin Durant returned from an injury absence to score 30, lifting the Phoenix Suns to a 134-126 win over the Utah Jazz on Friday in Salt Lake City.

Tyus Jones added 19 points and 11 assists and former Jazz forward Royce O'Neale chipped in with 17 points as the Suns snapped a three-game skid at the end of a four-game road trip.

Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 23 points and John Collins totaled 22 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Lauri Markkanen contributed 19 points and Keyonte George tallied 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds, but the Jazz lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Utah took its 11th defeat in 13 outings despite hitting 22 of 39 3-point attempts (56.4 percent) and shooting 55.8 percent from the floor.

Phoenix also hit 22 treys, on 45 attempts, and shot 52.8 percent from the field.

Durant came back after a three-game absence caused by an ankle injury. The Suns are 1-9 without him this season.

Jusuf Nurkic also returned for the Suns after sitting out five games with an ankle sprain and thigh contusion. He had 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Phoenix held a 12-point lead in the third quarter only to see Utah erase all but two of it with a 15-5 run. The Suns took a 112-105 lead into the fourth quarter and never let the Jazz get closer than within four in the final 12 minutes.

Durant, who went 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, put Phoenix up 126-119 with 3:08 left after hitting two from the charity stripe.

Booker and O'Neale hit 3-pointers in the final minutes as the Suns sealed the victory.

The Jazz held a 39-38 lead after an energetic first quarter. The Suns scored 38 again in the second quarter while exploding out to a 76-71 halftime advantage.

Booker and Durant combined for 41 points in the opening half. They each finished the night with eight assists.

--Field Level Media