Devin Booker sank six 3-pointers and scored 36 points as the host Phoenix Suns broke a four-game losing streak with a 118-96 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday in the teams’ first game of NBA Cup play.
Ryan Dunn amassed 13 points and 10 rebounds, Grayson Allen had 14 points and seven rebounds and Royce O’Neale added 13 points for the Suns, who avenged a 138-134 overtime loss at Utah on Monday.
Lauri Markkanen finished with 33 points and four 3-pointers, Keyonte George had 17 points and Walker Kessler grabbed 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who took their second straight loss while opening a five-game road trip.
The Suns took control with a 23-2 run to end the first quarter and led by 24 points early in the second. It was 83-67 entering the fourth.
Markkanen, who scored a career-high 51 points on Monday, put up seven points early in the fourth. Ace Bailey’s dunk brought the Jazz within 96-86 with 5:43 to go.
However, Booker’s three-point play capped a 9-0 run with 2:32 to go as the Suns regained control.
Booker dished out nine assists. Allen had seven rebounds and six assists, and Collin Gillespie contributed 12 points off the Phoenix bench.
The teams played virtually even on the boards, with the Jazz holding a 48-44 rebounding edge. In their win on Monday, the Jazz had 28 offensive rebounds that led to 33 second-chance points.
The Suns turned 21 Jazz turnovers into 29 points on Friday.
The Jazz shot a season-low 37.5% from the field. The Suns made 47.3% from the floor and were 17 of 48 (35.4%) from long distance.
The Suns led 37-17 at the end of the first quarter, when Booker’s 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining capped Phoenix’s lengthy run. He had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in the first 12 minutes.
The Suns doubled Jazz at 48-24 on Booker’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter.
O’Neale has hit 14 3-pointers in the past three games while starring in place of Dillon Brooks, whose injury was reclassified Friday as a core muscle strain. Projected Suns starter Jalen Green (hamstring) has missed all six games.
–Field Level Media
