Jazz Lose Second Straight To Suns

SALT LAKE CITY – The shorthanded Utah Jazz lost for the second straight outing, falling 105-97 to the league-leading Phoenix Suns.

Playing with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the Jazz kept the game close against the Suns but weren’t able to pull out a victory.

Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 26 points off the bench but was outdueled by Devin Booker’s 43 for Phoenix.

First Quarter

Just as he did Monday, Booker opened the game carrying the offensive load for the Suns scoring 21 points while adding six rebounds and four assists in the first 12 minutes.

The Jazz weren’t able to keep pace as they shot just 7-24 from the floor and 1-8 from three.

Eric Paschall 💪#TakeNote https://t.co/xEnsphvigV

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 27, 2022

Royce O’Neale led the Jazz with five first quarter points.

After one, the Jazz trailed the Suns 39-18.

Second Quarter

The Jazz reversed course in the second quarter outscoring the Suns 30-11 fueled offensively by Jordan Clarkson.

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year scored 10 points in the frame on 4-6 shooting including 2-4 from downtown.

more of this in half #2#TakeNote | @epaschall pic.twitter.com/haKtFaTxUB

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 27, 2022

The Suns committed five turnovers in the quarter leading to transition baskets for the Jazz as Phoenix failed to find any offensive rhythm.

At the half, the Jazz trailed Phoenix 50-48.

Third Quarter

The Suns came out as the aggressors in the third quarter rebuilding their lead to double-digits and locking in on the Jazz defensively.

Most importantly, the Suns limited their turnovers, managing to give the ball away only once in the quarter which kept the Jazz from finding easy baskets.

The Jazz scored just 16 points in the quarter led by Eric Paschall who had seven.

After three, the Jazz trailed the Suns 74-64.

Fourth Quarter

Just as they did in the second quarter the Jazz opened the fourth on a furious run led by impressive shot-making from Clarkson and trimmed the Suns lead to as small as four with under eight minutes to play.

However, a few inopportune turnovers while finding themselves in the penalty over the majority of the fourth quarter hampered their momentum.

5:08 remaining. The Jazz trail the Suns 92-84

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) January 27, 2022

In a similar finish to Monday night’s loss, the shorthanded Jazz provided a valiant effort, but ultimately weren’t able to hang with the healthier Suns deep into the fourth quarter.

The Jazz fell to Phoenix 105-97.

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