PHOENIX — Devin Booker delivered an impressive performance with a season-high 47 points, while Grayson Allen made a crucial 3-pointer at the buzzer that pushed the game into overtime, leading the undermanned Phoenix Suns to a 135-127 victory against the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
With just 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation, Allen turned the tide by catching an inbounds pass and sinking a 3-pointer from the right corner, bringing the score to a tie at 122. He then started overtime with another 3, and the Suns dominated the early minutes of the extra period, scoring the first eight points to secure the win and break a three-game losing streak.
John Collins was the top scorer for Utah, contributing 21 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 20 points to the team’s effort.
The Suns initially held a comfortable lead at 111-98 with 5:31 left on the clock but saw the Jazz mount a formidable comeback, going on a 13-0 run to seize a lead of 120-116 just 4.7 seconds before the end of regulation. Remarkably, Allen sank two 3-pointers in those closing seconds to force overtime.
In addition to Allen, who finished with 21 points and made seven shots from beyond the arc, the Suns played without key players Kevin Durant (ankle) and Bradley Beal (toe). Newly acquired forward Cody Martin and guard Vasa Micic were also sidelined after their recent trade from Charlotte.
Bol Bol contributed to tying the game by hitting a 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds left in the second quarter, sending the teams into halftime at a 55-all deadlock. Booker had an outstanding first half, scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Takeaways from the game reveal that it was a heartbreaking loss for Utah, which seemed poised for a comeback victory. For the Suns, it may mark a significant win given the challenging circumstances they faced, with hopes that this could ignite a positive momentum as the season progresses.
A pivotal moment in the match was Allen’s pair of 3-pointers within a span of just five seconds, which proved to be nearly impossible for Utah to counter.
Statistically, Booker’s performance stood out, as he played an impressive 49 minutes, shooting 18 of 33 from the field.
Looking ahead, both the Suns and the Jazz have games scheduled for Saturday night; Utah will visit the Los Angeles Clippers, while Phoenix is set to host the Denver Nuggets.
