Booker, Suns deal Jazz their second home loss
FILE — Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot alongside Mikal Bridges #25 during the second half of the NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns Arena on December 29, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. NBAE Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Booker hit a couple of clutch shots in the final minutes and scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Utah Jazz 106-95 in Salt Lake City.
Jae Crowder and Mikal Bridges each added 16 points, while Chris Paul contributed 11 points and eight assists as the Suns won their third game in a row.
Donovan Mitchell hit just 9 of 23 shots, but still scored a team-high 23 points for the Jazz.
Rudy Gobert tallied his fourth consecutive double-double to open the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds, but the Jazz fell behind early in the second quarter and couldn’t rally, instead losing for the second time in as many tries on their home court this season.
Crowder, a former Jazz player whose dad also played in Utah, scored 13 points in the first half to help the Suns take a 53-40 lead into the break. Phoenix outscored Utah 32-18 in the second quarter.
The Jazz pulled within 59-56 early in the second half, but Bridges helped the Suns reestablish a double-digit lead by scoring 11 points in the third quarter.
Cam Johnson put the Suns up 91-70 a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Utah made a push down the stretch, using a 23-7 stretch to pull within 98-93 with just over two minutes left.
Booker then hit a clutch jumper and 3-point shot in consecutive possessions to seal the Suns’ fourth win in five games this season.
Mike Conley also had a nice game for the Jazz, scoring 16 points, but the Jazz only shot 41.7 percent. The Suns, meanwhile, were hot all night from the floor and especially from 3-point range with 17 of 33 treys, including four apiece for Crowder and Bridges.
The game was delayed approximately seven minutes as adjustments were made to a backboard.
Both teams play again on New Year’s Day, with Utah hosting the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix traveling to Denver.
