Game Recap: Suns stun Jazz with game-tying Grayson Allen 3, OT shocker

The Suns sent the game to overtime and were led by heroic threes from guard Grayson Allen in their 135-127 win over the Jazz.

PHOENIX — By all accounts, the Phoenix Suns should have lost.

The Suns surrendered an 18-3 run to the lowly Utah Jazz, who entered Friday’s game at Footprint Center with just five wins since Jan. 1, in the final half of the fourth. The Jazz, who did not have Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, two of their best scorers, found a way to stun the Suns with a 22-5, fourth-quarter run, taking a 120-116 lead with just 4.1 seconds left after an Isaiah Collier deep two.

Then, an improbable comeback took place.

Holding possession, Grayson Allen — who started in place of forward Ryan Dunn — nailed a fading 3-pointer to make the score 120-119. The Jazz advanced the basketball and made two free throws, putting the Suns at a one-possession deficit with 0.09 seconds left.

Then, Allen delivered.

A deep three from Allen, who finished with seven for the night, tied the game at 122, setting up an improbable 13-5 overtime run for the Suns — and a 16-5 one overall — to shock the Utah Jazz and win, 135-127. The Suns improved to 26-25 and snapped a three-game losing streak. The Jazz fell to 12-38.

Onto the recap!

Top Performers

• Devin Booker: 47 PTS (season-high), 11 AST, 6 REB
• Grayson Allen: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK

Booker, who passed Walter Davis earlier this week to become the Suns’ franchise leader in scoring, was honored pregame.

“He made so many plays,” Budenholzer said. “ … He wanted this game in a big way.”

Game Flow

First Half

I stated this in our preview: I no longer expect the Suns, who have been one of the NBA’s best teams by record since the 2020 season, to go out and dominate inferior opponents. In fact, more often than not, they have looked like a weaker, less physical basketball team in many games.

The story of the first half was about what the Suns had not been doing: Playing their 7-foot-3, skilled big, Bol Bol. Bol was in pigtails and showed out with seven first-half points, including the final five of the half.

Without Beal and Durant, I pointed out how the Suns would suffer in their passing. That is the big reason why they were tied with the Jazz at halftime rather than moving the basketball well against a team that did not have arguably its best two guards, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, who were out due to injury.

Without his other co-stars, Devin Booker showed out. He had 22 first-half points and shot 8-of-12.

Second Half

The Suns are looking to become a contender. At least, that’s what James Jones said pregame.

In order for Phoenix to become its best version of this current group, the Suns will need Booker to be an all-around threat. Chris Paul is no longer at his side, and he needs to take a step forward.

Book had a terrific game and in the third quarter was especially crisp. With the game tied at 75 with 5:31 to go in the period, he had five points and an assist in an ensuing 11-3 run.

Booker’s end-of-the quarter assist to Dunn put the Suns up by five entering the fourth.

The Suns looked like they struggled to match the athleticism of the Trail Blazers. With Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, the Jazz provide somewhat of a big challenge to opposing teams. They entered Friday’s game No. 7 in the NBA in offensive boards per game (12.1).

Markkanen was going to get his. He, Kessler and forward John Collins combined for 20 of the Jazz’s 35 third-quarter points. Through three, he had 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Kessler, who is a dominant rebounder, had 13 boards to go along with 12 points.

All seemed fine for the Suns in the fourth, until it wasn’t.

Myself, I went down to the media room by the time the Suns had taken a 111-98 lead with 6:05 remaining. Then, the Jazz shocked the Suns.

Utah’s 18-3 run gave them a 116-114 lead with 1:15 to go. Without Clarkson and Sexton, Utah picked apart the Suns’ defense.

Book managed to tie the game at 116 with a deep two, but a Kessler dunk and contested shot from Collier gave the Jazz a four-point lead with 4.1 seconds to go.

By then, it seemed impossible that the Suns could win. But they did it anyway. Allen made a 3-pointer with two seconds left to cut the Suns’ deficit to 120-119. Shockingly, Markkanen — with 0.09 seconds left — chose to make two free throws and allow the Suns to advance past halfcourt with a timeout.

Then, Allen shot a rainbow three. And he made it.

“Big-time shots,” Budenholzer said. “Scoring that first basket in overtime can be important sometimes. Nice run, incredible run by Grayson there.

“Royce (O’Neale) put it right on the money,” Budenholzer said. “The screens, attention to detail.”

Allen’s hot shooting continued with a third straight three to start the overtime. The Suns only allowed five points and escaped with an eight-point win.

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Up Next

The Suns will play again tomorrow against the Denver Nuggets. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be televised by Arizona’s Family and Arizona’s Family Sports.

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