SALT LAKE CITY — The Phoenix Suns kicked off their NBA Cup pool play with a strong performance, defeating the Utah Jazz 120-112 on Tuesday night. Devin Booker led the charge with 31 points, while Bradley Beal contributed 24 points to the team’s victory. Grayson Allen also made his mark on the game, adding 15 points to the Suns’ tally. The trio of Booker, Beal, and Allen excelled from beyond the arc, collectively sinking 13 three-pointers.

In the absence of injured center Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee stepped up, delivering an impressive 15 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. The Jazz, on the other hand, were powered by John Collins, who scored 29 points and secured 10 rebounds. Kyle Filipowski provided a solid boost off the bench with 18 points, and Lauri Markkanen added 17 points of his own. Jordan Clarkson finished the game with 16 points and dished out a team-high eight assists.

The game saw Utah trailing by double digits for a significant portion, but a dunk by Filipowski narrowed the gap to 89-83 with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, Beal quickly responded with consecutive baskets to prevent further Jazz momentum. The Suns then extended their lead with back-to-back three-pointers from Royce O’Neale and Booker, pushing the score to 110-98 with only 3:58 left in the game.

Takeaways from the game highlighted Phoenix’s explosive and efficient approach, which thwarted several potential Jazz comebacks. The Suns thrived in transition, accumulating 16 fast-break points, and demonstrated remarkable shooting prowess with 18 three-pointers made in total. Conversely, the Jazz showcased their strength in the paint, outscoring the Suns significantly with a 58-34 advantage in that area.

A pivotal moment occurred when Utah had begun to close the gap, scoring back-to-back baskets from Markkanen and Filipowski. However, a defensive mistake by Markkanen, who inadvertently tipped the ball into his own basket while attempting a rebound, sparked a 12-0 run for the Suns, pushing their lead to 49-32 midway through the second quarter.

From a statistical standpoint, the Phoenix squad was particularly efficient from three-point range, going 9 of 17 in the first half and achieving an overall shooting percentage of 58.5% from the field.

Looking ahead, the Suns will face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, marking their second game in four days. Meanwhile, the Jazz will host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, looking to bounce back from this defeat.