Still deprived of Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson, the Suns had all the difficulty in the world to get rid of Jazz and its game offshore. It was even Utah that got off to the best start, thanks to its exteriors (Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley and Talen Horton-Tucker) while Devin Booker struggled to find the target (2/10 in the first quarter).
The Suns quickly got back together pressing Deandre Ayton under the circle, and as Devin Booker found his way back to the circle on the way back from the locker room, Phoenix was on contact again.
Except that the Jazz, despite its problems under the circle, did not let go, and the two teams were still neck and neck in the “money-time”. Lauri Markkanen thus found colors at the end of the match, but the many missed baskets on both sides, and the offensive rebounds of Deandre Ayton, finally ensured the success of the Suns.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Utah hammered near the circle. In an evening without address for the Suns (6/22 to 3-points…), it is in the racket that Phoenix won this match. Deandre Ayton imposed his power against Kelly Olynyk or Lauri Markkanen, and his offensive rebounds (9 in total) were invaluable in depriving the Jazz of possessions that could have given him victory. Two stats that confirm this observation: 62 points scored in the paint for the Suns, against 44 for the Jazz; and the difference in offensive rebound between the two teams: 18 for Phoenix against 8 for Utah.
– The Suns consolidate their place, the Jazz slips. The hierarchy is slowly getting back into place in the West. Even if it’s not always very nice, the Suns are in any case well established at the top of the West, with now 13 wins for 6 losses. Leader of the conference not so long ago, and a big surprise at the start of the campaign, Will Hardy’s Jazz slipped to 8th place with this fourth loss in a row.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Deandre Ayton. What is a pivot in the NBA still for? Deandre Ayton came to remind him, hammering Utah’s very soft racket with 29 points at 11/19 shooting, and above all 21 rebounds including 9 offensive. This is the first Sun since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2007 to achieve a double double-double to +28 points and +20 rebounds.
✅ Jordan Clarkson. Frankly, after years of seeing him draw at the slightest opportunity off the bench, without necessarily being very effective, it was hard to imagine Jordan Clarkson being anything other than a walking firecracker. But this season, he shows that he is much more than that, and he proved it again last night with his 22 points (8/18), 5 rebounds and 5 assists. As well as the best +/- of the match at +9.
⛔ The Phoenix shooters. It’s a good sign that the Suns won this meeting despite such a weak exterior address. The Payne / Booker duo thus combined an ugly 2/13 to 3-pointers. Enough to finish at 6/22 (27%) from a distance. Luckily Deandre Ayton was there to grab the rebounds…
THE FOLLOWING
Phoenix (13-6): the Suns will try to chain a fifth victory in Sacramento on Monday night
Utah (12-10): the Jazz will try to revive against Chicago, at home, Monday evening
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