Utah Jazz fall to a tough Phoenix Suns team

The Utah Jazz suffered a tough overtime loss against a really good Phoenix Suns team 113-117. This game had the feel of King Kong Vs Godzilla. It was a clash of the Titans that ultimately doesn’t prove anything about the winning team or the losing team but it was still really fun and left us wanting more. All we know is that both of these contenders will be around during the playoffs and it would be a really entertaining series if these two teams were to meet each other come playoff time.

Phoenix was led by none other than Chris Paul and Devin Booker. The formidable backcourt duo combined for 64 points on 45% shooting. The Suns came into this game winners of 6 straight and 9 of 10, just like the Jazz. Suns center DeAndre Ayton also had a nice game with 18 points and 12 rebounds. They key reason the Suns were able to win this game is rebounding. They finished this game with a big 61-45 advantage in rebounding and grabbed several key offensive rebounds late in the game, which broke the Jazz spirit.

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

The Jazz came into this game with questions about whether or not they could win a game against a good playoff team and with the Suns breathing down their neck for first place in the Western Conference, just 2.5 games back with 22 games to play. The loss puts the Suns just 1.5 games back now and only 1 game in the loss column The game started off about as badly as it could have for the Jazz. Falling behind 13-2 out of the gates is risky when you are playing a hostile road game on national tv. But the Jazz clawed their way back with a 19-7 run to take the lead at the end of the 1st. Phoenix lead most of the game after that(by as many as 12) until another rally by the Jazz at the end of the 3rd quarter put them ahead by 1 going into the final frame. But the Jazz could not create enough of a cushion in the 4th to pull away, and OT seems to be the achilles heel of the team this season. The final score was 117-113 in favor of the Suns.

The Jazz don’t have time to lick their wounds, with a quick turnaround tomorrow night against Portland and then going up against a young and tough Kings team this Saturday. The Suns will try to extend their streak to 8 games as they travel to play the Clippers tomorrow.