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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – In an incredible display of shooting by both teams, the Utah Jazz could not keep up with the Phoenix Suns in a 134-126 loss Friday night at the Delta Center.
Both teams made 22 three-pointers and shot well over 50 percent from the field.
Devin Booker scored 34 points and Kevin Durant added 30 in his return to Phoenix’s lineup, leading the Suns to a 134-126 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
“If nothing else, tonight highlights the skill level in the NBA these days,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy. “That there was quite a shooting performance by both teams. A lot of really high level shot making tonight from both groups. The parts that I didn’t like were our physicality on the defensive end was not very good.”
Durant and Booker also each had eight assists to help the Suns snap a three-game losing streak. Tyus Jones had 19 points and 11 assists.
Durant missed three games because of a left ankle sprain. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic also was back after sitting out five games with a left ankle sprain and right thigh contusion.
Jordan Clarkson also returned for Utah following a seven-game absence because of plantar fasciitis and led the Jazz with 23 points. John Collins added 22 points, while Lauri Markkanen had 19.
Phoenix opened the second half with six straight baskets – three coming from Booker – for a 92-80 lead. The Jazz countered with a 15-4 run and pulled to 99-97 on a running alley-oop layup from Walker Kessler.
Ryan Dunn capped a 9-2 run with a finger roll layup to extend the Suns’ lead to 108-99. Utah did not draw closer than four points in the fourth quarter.
Durant and Booker combined for 21 baskets and 16 assists.
Sizzling outside shooting helped Utah keep pace with Phoenix. The Jazz made 22 3-pointers and shot 56% beyond the arc. Utah made 55.3 percent of its shots from the field overall, while Phoenix shot at a 52.3 percent clip.
Clarkson made three straight baskets to help Utah score on its first six second quarter possessions and take a 53-44 lead. Phoenix erased the deficit behind a 12-0 run, fueled by Booker’s back-to-back threes, and went ahead 63-58. The Suns never trailed after that point.
Utah (5-19) has lost five straight games at home and 11 of 13 overall.
The Jazz next open a five-game road trip at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.