Suns’ Devin Booker, Kevin Durant come out hot in win over Utah

Dec 13, 2024, 10:14 PM | Updated: 10:30 pm

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) followings through after scoring a 3-pointer against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

BY ALEX WEINER

Diamondbacks reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 64 points, as the Phoenix Suns survived 134-126 against the Utah Jazz in a scoring spree on Friday night.

The two sides combined for hit 44 triples, and neither team scored fewer than 32 points in any quarter before the game tightened up in the fourth.

The Suns (13-11) came away with a hard-fought win in Durant’s return from a left ankle sprain, snapping a three-game skid. Phoenix improved to 12-2 when Durant plays this season.

Booker, in an arena he’s had plenty of success scoring in, dropped 34 points on 13-for-27 shooting. He scored 22 points in the first half.

Booker has put together some of his best individual performances in Utah, scoring 59, 49 and 43 points in three separate games at the Delta Center throughout his career.

Durant added 30 in his return, hitting 8 of 17 shots and knocking down all 12 of his free throws. He nearly added a couple poster dunks, as well. It didn’t take long to get going, either, as Durant finished the first half with 19 points.

The Big 3 was not fully intact, as Bradley Beal sat out with right knee swelling.

Getting to his spot. pic.twitter.com/y5OKZx4l6L

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 14, 2024

The shot making in this game from both teams was turned up a notch on Friday, especially in the first three quarters. The Suns shot 22-for-45 from beyond the arc, and the Jazz (5-19) hit 22 of 39 attempts from deep. Both teams set season highs for 3-pointers made.

Seemingly no one could miss in a first half with 147 combined points scored. The Suns took a 76-71 lead into halftime and shot 11-for-17 from deep, but the Jazz outshot them with a 15-for-22 clip.

The Suns jumped out to a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but the shots kept falling for Utah to stay in it. Suns rookie Ryan Dunn hit a corner 3 before the horn to take a 112-105 lead into the final frame.

With both teams on fire from deep, Phoenix separated itself in the turnovers and rebounds categories. The Suns only turned the ball over seven times — a season low — compared to Utah’s 15, while they won the rebounding battle 43-39. Phoenix produced 34 assists on the night for its best assist-to-turnover ratio all year.

The supporting cast was once again very impactful. Tyus Jones scored 19 points with 11 assists, Royce O’Neale added 17 points and Dunn put up 13 in his first game back from an ankle injury. Jones and O’Neale knocked down 10 combined triples on 16 attempts.

O’Neale hit what Durant signaled to be the dagger in the fourth quarter.