Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to hit 9-of-16 three-pointers, scoring 24 and 31 points, respectively, as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Utah Jazz 120-112 in their NBA Cup group play opener on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
Mason Plumlee stepped up in place of injured Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) and recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. The Suns were also without All-NBA forward Kevin Durant, who missed his second game due to a calf strain.
Even with two key players out, Phoenix started strong against Utah.
The Suns briefly trailed in the first quarter but quickly went on a 15-4 run to take their first double-digit lead of the game. Phoenix’s lead grew as large as 18 points in the second quarter.
Utah, looking for its first home win of the season, slowly worked its way back in the second half. Jordan Clarkson hit two three-pointers in the final minute, pulling the Jazz to within six points, but they couldn’t get any closer.
Phoenix had a strong advantage at the free-throw line, making 15-of-20 shots compared to Utah’s 7-of-9. The Suns also outshot the Jazz from beyond the arc, with both teams shooting well from long range.
Beal, who made 4-of-7 from three, and Booker, who hit 5-of-9, helped Phoenix shoot 18-of-39 (46.2%) from three-point range. Grayson Allen came off the bench to hit 4-of-9 from deep, contributing 15 points.
Clarkson shot 4-of-9 from three, leading Utah to a 15-of-38 (39.5%) performance from long range, including the two big threes late in the game. Clarkson finished with 16 points off the bench. Jazz rookie Kyle Filipowski scored 18 points off the bench, and Lauri Markkanen added 17.
Utah also got a strong second-half effort from John Collins, who scored six straight points midway through the fourth quarter. Despite Collins’ run, which brought his total to a team-high 29 points, Booker responded with five quick points and Royce O’Neal hit a three-pointer to push Phoenix’s lead back to 13, sealing the win.
