Nov 12, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) brings the ball up the court against Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) during the second quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to hit 9 of 16 3-pointers en route to 24 and 31 points, respectively, and the Phoenix Suns opened the NBA Cup group stage with a 120-112 loss to the host Utah Jazz on Tuesday. in Salt Lake City.
Mason Plumlee recorded a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds while starting in place of the injured Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) for Phoenix, which was also without All-NBA forward Kevin Durant, who was out for a second game due to a calf strain.
Despite missing two starters, Phoenix attacked Utah from the start.
The Suns only trailed momentarily in the first quarter before going on a 15-4 run that allowed them to take their first double-digit points lead of the night. Phoenix’s lead grew to 18 in the second quarter.
Utah, looking for its first home win this season, closed the gap in the second half. Jordan Clarkson hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute, both bringing the Jazz within six points, but they couldn’t get any closer.
Phoenix’s advantage in free throws (15 of 20 vs. 7 of 9) helped keep Utah at bay. The Suns also benefited from outscoring the Jazz from beyond the 3-point arc on a night in which both teams shot well from the three-point line.
Beal, who made 4 of 7 shots, and Booker, 5 of 9, helped Phoenix make 18 of 39 long-range shots (46.2 percent). Grayson Allen came off the bench to make 4 of 9 three-point shots, part of his 15 points.
Clarkson’s 4-of-9 night led Utah to 15-of-38 shooting (39.5 percent) from three-point range, including two down the stretch. Clarkson finished with 16 points off the bench. Jazz rookie Kyle Filipowski added 18 off the bench and Lauri Markkanen scored 17.
Utah also got a strong second-half effort from John Collins, who scored six straight points in one stretch midway through the fourth quarter. Collins’ burst, part of a team-high 29 points, failed to make a dent, as Devin Booker responded with five points down the stretch and Royce O’Neal hit a 3-pointer that extended Phoenix’s lead to 13. .
–Field level media
