Phoenix is looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Who: Phoenix Suns (25-25) against the Utah Jazz (12-37)
When: 8:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: AZFamily, Suns Live
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Here we are. One day after the trade deadline. Back to basketball.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Kevin Durant — QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Sprain)
- Bradley Beal — QUESTIONABLE (Left Great Toe Soreness)
- Ryan Dunn — PROBABLE (Left Ankle Soreness)
- Jusuf Nurkic — OUT (Trade Pending)
Jazz
- Cody Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Ankle)
- Jordan Clarkson — OUT (Foot)
- Collin Sexton — OUT (Left Ankle Sprain)
- Taylor Hendricks — OUT (Broken Right Leg)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Here are some of the key stats offensively and defensively for the Jazz:
- No. 19 — Points per game (111.6)
- No. 18 — 2-point percentage (53.9)
- No. 17 — 3-point percentage (35.6)
- No. 12 — Free-throw percentage (78.8)
- No. 6 — Rebounds PG (53.7)
- No. 26 — Opponent points per game (118.6)
Utah’s aggressive investment toward the future will pay off, but it is not a very good basketball team to date.
Williams College player and former San Antonio Spurs assistant (Will Hardy) is someone who has a deep background in offensive prowess. But his Jazz team does not have the personnel once held with the Spurs, where he was mentored by Gregg Popovich, or with the Boston Celtics (he was an assistant from 2021-22).
Collin Sexton is out. He’s a bigger guard who can give the Suns challenges offensively. Without Jordan Clarkson, the Jazz lack a secondary finisher around the basket, which takes some of the defensive pressure off of the Suns.
I expect Markkanen to have a big game. He was the Jazz’ lone source of offense in the Suns’ 114-106 win on Jan. 11. He attacks the basket so gracefully as a 7-footer and his outside shot is a force to be reckoned with, even though his 35.2% from outside leaves a little to be desired.
I wouldn’t be against the Jazz employing a 2-3 zone defense to try and collapse the Suns, who are potent in the mid-range but very streaky from beyond the arc. Devin Booker will not face the same resistance offensively since Sexton is out. I don’t think Utah will try and do anything to get the ball out of his hands since their rim protection is their greatest strength and not their perimeter closeouts.
Key to a Suns Win
Shoot the ball well and make open shots. Utah isn’t going to provide much perimeter resistance. I don’t see a way the Suns lose this game because the Jazz are without their best scorer from one-through-three.
Prediction
Anything can happen, as is the case with what we just saw in Portland. But the Jazz have only won five games since the turn of the calendar, and even though they just knocked off the Warriors Wednesday, I don’t think they have the firepower to take down Booker, Durant and even Bradley Beal off the bench.
Suns 113, Jazz 97
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