Utah Jazz ahead John Collins (20) fouls Phoenix Suns ahead Kevin Durant (35) in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball in-season event sport Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Salt Lake Metropolis. (AP Picture/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY — Kevin Durant scored 38 factors and Devin Booker had 24 factors and a career-high 15 assists to spice up the Phoenix Suns to a 131-128 win over the Utah Jazz in an In-Season Event sport Friday night time.
Durant’s 3 lifted the Suns to a 124-115 lead earlier than the Jazz rallied to get inside one level within the ultimate minute. Durant struck once more along with his sixth 3 with 18 seconds left.
Durant additionally collected 9 rebounds and 9 assists. He has scored at the very least 25 factors in 11 straight video games for the longest energetic streak within the NBA.
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Jordan Clarkson scored a season-high 37 factors for Utah. He has 4 straight video games with 26 or extra factors, the longest such streak of his profession.
Lauri Markkanen scored 21 factors for Jazz, and John Collins had 15 factors and 14 rebounds.
The Suns (6-6) improved to 1-1 in West Group Some time the Jazz (4-8) dropped to 2-1.
Jusuf Nurkic scored 15 factors and Eric Gordon had 14 for the Suns, who’ve gained back-to-back video games for simply the second time this season.
Booker powered a 16-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarter that gave the Suns a 107-99 lead with 10:15 to play, a bonus they held — simply barely — by the end.
After a 2-7 begin and the lack of defensive anchor Walker Kessler to an elbow harm, the Jazz modified their defensive technique to a switching, generally trapping scheme.
The issue was they usually left Durant open for 3-pointers. He went 6 for 8 from deep.
The Suns’ huge three of Booker, Durant and Bradley Beal have but to play collectively this season. Phoenix introduced Tuesday that Beal would miss the Utah sport with a decrease again pressure and might be re-evaluated in three weeks.
Booker, who has missed eight video games with ankle and calf accidents, and Durant scored or assisted on each Suns basket in a 41-point first quarter, their high scoring quarter his season. They mixed for 19 factors and 11 assists.
Phoenix has opted to go with out a conventional level guard and put a heavy load on its scoring stars.
Keyonte George, who had 15 factors, scored eight in a 12-2 run that gave the Jazz its first lead of the sport late within the second quarter. It was tied 75-75 on the half.
The Suns and Jazz play one another once more on Sunday.