Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Champ Hits Clutch Overtime Three for Surging Suns

If he keeps it up, Duke basketball gem Grayson Allen could become a beloved Sun.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball guard Grayson Allen (Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports)
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There's no doubt that 2015 Duke basketball national champ Grayson Allen is a clutch performer.

With under a minute to play in the second overtime of the Phoenix Suns' 140-137 road victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night and the score knotted at 135-135, the 28-year-old Allen calmly drained a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer to give his squad the momentum with 42 ticks remaining on the clock:

It was the Suns' second win of the weekend against the Jazz in Utah, and it was their third straight win overall.

And it's worth noting that Allen's 43 minutes on the floor on Sunday were second on the team, trailing only Kevin Durant's 46. The sixth-year NBA Blue Devil tallied 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor, 3-for-6 shooting beyond the arc, and 1-for-2 shooting at the foul line.

He added four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.

As the above crunch-time highlight shows, first-year Suns head coach Frank Vogel and Allen's teammates trust him in decisive moments.

Through 13 games for Phoenix since being traded from the Milwaukee Bucks in the preseason, Grayson Allen has received 13 starting nods and has averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. Those would mark career-high averages for the former late first-round draft pick.

The Suns (7-6) and their Duke basketball treasure have one day off before welcoming the Portland Trail Blazers (3-10) to Phoenix on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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