Game Summary: Inexperienced The Suns easily defeat the Jazz, 129-115. Even without Booker tonight, the combined 14 assists from Grayson Allen and the 30-point efforts from KD and Beal proved plenty.

Game Summary: Inexperienced The Suns easily defeat the Jazz, 129-115.
Even without Booker tonight, the combined 14 assists from Grayson Allen and the 30-point efforts from KD and Beal proved plenty.

It was the NBA Trade Deadline, one of the most fascinating basketball game nights of the year. Some rosters trade players in an effort to improve. Neither they nor the new additions can contribute to the team. So, hoping for a victory for your squad, you enter the match shorthanded.

The Phoenix Suns began tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz short four players as a result of the Suns’ three-way agreement with the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies. No Jordan Goodwin, no Keita Bates-Diop, no Yuta Watanabe, and no Chimezie Metu. All of them were traded when David Roddy and Royce O’Neale were acquired by the Suns. The Jazz also sent out Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji, and Simone Fontecchio due to injury.

I projected Devin Booker would score 45 points tonight in my game preview. He plays well with the Jazz, but sadly, things didn’t work out. Due to a strained hip, Devin Booker was not in. So the four-time All-Star would not let loose with a 45-point tirade.

Instead, Phoenix used a team basketball strategy, and thanks to players like Kevin Durant (31 points and 7 assists), Bradley Beal (30 points on 6 of 8 three-point shooting), and Grayson Allen (career-high 14 assists), the Suns won by a score of 14 points.

John Collins led the Jazz with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

Phoenix surpassed their previous highs of 36 and 35, which they also achieved earlier in the season against the Jazz, with a season-high 37 assists. Since the 1982–1983 season, this is the first time the Susnhave swept the Jazz in their season series.

First-half game flow
Kevin Durant’s three-of-three shooting to start the game gave Phoenix a 9-2 lead. He was aggressive and forceful early on, scoring 11 of the team’s first 20 points.

Bradley Beal contributed to the Suns’ early lead by making three of his first four three-point attempts, which helped them go up to 11 points, 26-15. After having to wear a mask, Beal had trouble making his three-ball shot, but he has now adjusted, shooting 6-of-13 from beyond the arc in his previous two games.

With two three-pointers, Jordan Clarkson gave the Jazz a boost offensively, while big man Walker Kessler, who scored eight points in the first quarter, assisted on the inside.

Durant made his way back into the starting lineup and resumed his three-point shooting. His 19 points at the end of the first quarter helped the Suns to a 40-point quarter and a 16-point advantage at the half. In that time, the Suns only committed two turnovers and had 12 assists.

Nassir Little had a very stacked deal, yet he was not part in any trade deadline trades. Devin Booker’s injury and the team’s reduced roster after four players were sent out gave Little a chance to play. The second quarter began with him.

With Kessler out, Jusuf Nurkic dominated the first half of the second, and Utah had no interior player comparable to his size. He easily scored eight points, punishing Utah’s thin front line.

Before the game, Grayson Allen had a season-high six assists. With eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, he was finding open teammates and handing the ball around when he had that.

Utah, led by youngster Keyonte George, went on a 10-2 run to cut into Phoenix’s lead. The Jazz did a good job of getting out in transition quickly after missing shots, which created easy scoring opportunities.

Utah further reduced the deficit with free throws and three-pointers. The second quarter saw them score 38 points. At the half, the Jazz were behind 9 points, 75-66.

After just four points in the second, KD had 23. Granted, there were only five minutes remaining in the half when he was replaced. There, get some rest. And Georgia? Eight was his career high in assists. At the half, he had nine.

The Second Half
With a focus on aggressiveness, Utah started the second half by bodying up and hand-checking the Suns. The authorities won’t call it every time if you do it on every play. They went on a 12–6 run to cut the previously held 19–point lead to just three points thanks to this.

In response, the Suns carried out their nightlong strategy of moving the ball. In every possession, the rock was popping and buzzing, looking for open shooters to knock down their shots. The Phoenix quickly rebounded to 16 points with a 13-0 run.

By finding his teammates in transition and from three, Allen increased the number of assists he had provided. With three minutes remaining in the third, he was benched after picking up four consecutive ticky-tack fouls, even though he had 14 assists by then.

The play that defined the third quarter was when rookie Troy Hendricks was crossed up by Kevin Durant and placed on skates. After Durant drove to the cylinder and jammed one home, the ninth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft tumbled to the ground. Another KD moment worth highlighting.

The Suns led 109-90 going into the fourth quarter after cutting their lead to just three points at the end of the quarter.

The Suns gave up a quick 60 run to the Utah Jazz to start the fourth quarter as most do. Phoenix is terrified of scoring in the first three minutes of the game, for whatever reason.

Just when the fans was about to lose it, as it usually does at the beginning of the fourth, an electrifying performance by the guy who replaced Keita Bates-Diop in the rotation eased their fears.

Troy Hendricks was once again the victim of Bol Bol’s prank on the Jazz.

Phoenix committed four team fouls in the opening three minutes, therefore the whistle started to sound against them. The rest of the game would be spent by the Jazz making free throws. They might then adjust the pace to suit them.

Utah took that action. Reduced its speed. Every play, they went after the cylinder, yelling before they made contact in an attempt to sell the call. It’s funny how a team who plays physical defense the entire game doesn’t have a foul called against them, but on the other side of the court, they are rewarded for creating contact all the time.

The 7’2″ wing got three blocks in two possessions to start the Bol Bol block display in the fourth.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Jazz narrowed the deficit to 11 points, but KD started to dominate with baskets and passes. Beal’s 30 points and 6 made three-pointers were excessive, as were his 31 points and 7 assists.