Suns Sneak Past Jazz 113-112
The Phoenix Suns last met the Utah Jazz and fell to them in 134-133 fashion.
Round two did not disappoint.
The Suns escaped with a 113-112 victory in the final seconds in front of a sold-out Footprint Center on Saturday night to emerge to 13-6. Their record at home now expands to 11-1, becoming the first team in the NBA to hit that amount of wins at home.
Phoenix now holds a four-game winning streak on the season.
The game was carried on the back of Deandre Ayton, who finished the night with 29 points and 20 rebounds. Tonight marked the third time Ayton had recorded 20-20 in his career.
Devin Booker finished with 27 of his own points as every starter scored at least 10 or more in the victory.
The Suns were without point guard Chris Paul yet again as the veteran floor general continues to deal with right heel soreness.
Prior to the game, Phoenix coach Monty Williams said the team has adapted well without Paul on the floor:
"We’ve won in different ways. Cameron Payne has played well, Book’s been Book, Mikal has had a number of nights, but if there was a concept, it would be the rebounding which didn’t really add up because last night didn’t go as well as we’d like it to and we still won but that’s usually just a marker for us," Williams said.
"I would say it’s been a number of things when you have had as many of guys that we’ve had out - Cam Johnson, Chris (Paul), Landry (Shamet), DA has been out, you have to win in different ways I would have to imagine. We just been able to grind and find a way to score one more point, that’s how we’ve done it but I could not pinpoint one thing.”
Phoenix began the night a dismal 1-of-10 shooting and trailed for majority of the first half before edging Utah in the later stages of the game.
The Jazz will head home with a loss after shooting 50.6% from the field and 40.6% from three. 12 turnovers would ultimately send Utah to their fourth-straight loss.
The Suns rest on Sunday before traveling to Sacramento to battle the Kings on Monday night.
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