Elfrid Payton’s triple-double, Booker’s return not enough for Suns win
Feb 14, 2018, 9:43 PM | Updated: 9:50 pm
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
It was not a 46-point loss for the Phoenix Suns in Utah Wednesday night. It was, in fact, a rather competitive game, but one that ultimately ended in a 107-97 defeat to the Jazz.
A highly contested game throughout was decided on the glass. The Suns were outrebounded 54-41 by the Jazz and despite Utah shooting only 42 percent, Phoenix could not get big stops in the closing quarter when they needed them. The Jazz scored 35 points in the fourth quarter.
Devin Booker returned after missing four games due to a left hip pointer and looked like himself. He finished with 28 points on 8-of-20 shooting, adding five rebounds and three assists.
A notable point in the game came when Jazz rookie forward Royce O’Neale began chatting with Booker, and as Suns fans know with Booker, there’s nothing better for his game than that.
Booker nails second 3 of the quarter. #SunsAtJazz pic.twitter.com/KW04pFTBsD
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 15, 2018
He scored 13 of his 28 in the third quarter when he and O’Neale began having more frequent conversations.
Even with a couple of step-back midrange jumpers mixed in, it was one of Josh Jackson’s best performances in a Suns uniform. Making the right decisions and slowing it down when he needed to, Jackson shot a very efficient 10-of-15 from the field for 22 points.
That included a couple of highlight-reel drives to the basket.
He would fluidly go behind-the-back on one.
Josh Jackson with the smooth move to the rack!#SunsAt50 #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/5lGJgm5nQs
— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2018
And followed that later with a lightning-quick attack at the end of the first quarter.
Jackson with the buzzer-beater! #SunsAtJazz pic.twitter.com/mTwP8GVRJ7
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 15, 2018
The hammer would come in the second when the lane cleared for a monster slam.
Jackson with the one-handed tomahawk jam to tie the game. #SunsAtJazz pic.twitter.com/fBxsEoFkHF
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 15, 2018
Elfrid Payton did not have his flow going scoring the ball and had his struggles defensively, but he still managed to positively contribute with a triple-double.
His 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists marked the first triple-double for a Suns player since Eric Bledsoe’s on Feb. 15 last year against the Lakers and continued his red-hot start in Phoenix.
The Suns, losers of their last seven, now head into the All-Star break tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the worst record in the NBA at 18-41. They will be back in action on Feb. 23 against the Clippers.
