Due to the numerous absences on both sides, especially on the Jazz side, this shock of the Western conference was announced to be less “sexy” than it could be next spring. But this duel between two of the four best teams in the league ended up being much more interesting than imagined.
The Suns, carried by an effective Devin Booker at the start of the match, quickly took the lead by finishing the first quarter with a ten-point lead (31-21). But Utah is not going to disassemble. With the address of Rudy Gay, Jordan Clarkson or the most improbable Trent Forrest, the visitors signed a solid second quarter to return to only one possession (58-56).
And even afford to take a short lead after the next twelve minutes (85-87). Probably not very happy with the turn of events, Chris Paul decided to take matters into his own hands in the final period to help his team regain a ten-point lead a few minutes from time.
Despite Jordan Clarkson’s three award-winning baskets at the very end, Phoenix ended up winning and thus offering themselves a seventh straight victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A brawling Jazz. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’Neale, not to mention Joe Ingles: the Jazz showed up in Phoenix without their five majors and six of their nine best scorers. What is more is at the heart of a bad dynamic of seven defeats in nine matches. Despite all these negative factors, Quin Snyder’s troupe delivered a good impression. With seven players at ten or more points, this group held off the best team in the league for most of the game.
– The stars of the Suns very mobilized. Direct consequence of the beautiful face presented by the Jazz, Monty Williams, deprived of Cameron Payne, Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder, had to shoot his executives: 40 minutes for Chris Paul, 38 for Devin Booker or 35 for Mikal Bridges. Playing times above their average for the season.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Chris Paul. Boss size! The leader took matters into his own hands in the last quarter by scoring 15 of his 27 points, while continuing to distribute, towards his new favorite interior Bismack Biyombo in particular, and by capturing rebounds. He only missed one to sign a triple-double. Only downside, beyond his important playing time, his seven lost balls. Unusual with him.
✅ Bismack Biyombo. Second double-double in a row for the pivot who plays the best basketball of his career in contact with “CP3”. He perfectly relayed a JaVale McGee limited by faults. The only black point of his evening was clumsiness on the free throw line (2/6) which could have been more detrimental to his team at the end of the match.
✅ Trent Forrest. Best career game for the usually replacement leader of the Jazz who had never passed the bar of ten points registered in the NBA. Without going too crazy in the creation, the non-drafted player was very skilful in getting closer to the circle and limiting the waste as much as possible.
✅ ⛔ Devin Booker. Start of the match cannon for the rear author of 17 points in the first quarter. He lost efficiency in the following periods, notably missing his six attempts in the last quarter. 33 points in 35 attempts, we knew more profitable for the back who remained on an outing at 5/23 on shots against the Pacers.
RUDY GAY IN THE TOP 100
For his first start of the season, Rudy Gay scored 13 points. A total that allowed him to overtake Chris Webber and invite himself into the Top 100 of the best scorers in the history of the league (17,193 points). A great accomplishment for this attacker who has never been All-Star. The winger, for example, has scored more career points than Joe Dumars, James Worthy, Grant Hill, Bob Cousy or Jerry Stackhouse.
THE FOLLOWING
Suns (37-9) and Jazz (30-18) meet in Utah on Wednesday for the rematch.
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