AP

NBA-best Suns overcome 17-point deficit in 4th to beat Jazz

Apr 8, 2022, 9:25 AM | Updated: 10:33 pm

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots as Utah Jazz forward Danuel House Jr. (25) defends durin...

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots as Utah Jazz forward Danuel House Jr. (25) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 8, 2022, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Booker scored 33 points and the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 111-105 on Friday night.

Deandre Ayton sealed the victory off a pass from Chris Paul with 18.4 seconds left. Ayton had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul had 16 points and 16 assists to help the Suns extend their franchise record with their 64th victory.

“We read the game. They try to take this away? Boom, we hit this guy,” Paul said. “They took Book away and (Ayton) is open. They helped off of Mikal (Bridges) and we hit him. We weren’t surprised.”

Bridges added 18 points, capping a 14-0 Phoenix run in the fourth quarter to tie it at 98. His dunk and three-point play with 46 seconds remaining gave the Suns a 107-102 lead.

“I didn’t think we had a great team spirit in the third,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Then, for whatever reason, I saw this steadiness in our huddle. We call it the wear-down effect, where if we can just stay with it, trust each other and keep playing the right way, we can live with the results.”

The Jazz didn’t score a field goal – nine straight misses — for almost seven minutes in the fourth quarter.

“We had six assists in the second half,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said. “The ball stopped moving. We gave up something. When you don’t have efficient possessions offensively, it becomes much more difficult for us to defend.”

Utah has lost 16 games where it held double-digit leads this season. The Suns outscored the Jazz 36-13 in the fourth quarter.

“We knew we had to take it up a notch,” Booker said. “We were aware that they’ve given up some big leads this year.”

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points for Utah. Slowed by Bridges, Donovan Mitchell had 18 points on 7-of-21 shooting. Rudy Gobert finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“We didn’t get stops and they were able to run. We stopped playing the way we were playing earlier,” Gobert said. “We do overthink in the fourth and in clutch time.”

After both teams had rested stars in their previous games, this one looked like a playoff preview with some brilliant execution at times and extraordinary effort.

Showing why these squads rank at the top in offensive efficiency, there were amazing baskets until the Suns suddenly clamped down.

The Suns long ago wrapped up the top seed in the NBA — and showed why they look like the team to beat.

“In hostile situations, it’s us against the world,” Bridges said. “We become tighter together and just get stronger. We’re one out there.”

The Suns finished with a franchise-record 32 road wins and become the first NBA team since 1969-70 New York Knicks to finish with a better road winning percentage than every other team’s home winning percentage.

“We have some villains on this team,” Bridges said. “They love breaking the hearts of the fans (on the road).”

The Jazz are currently in the fifth spot in the Western Conference but could possible fall to sixth on the final night of the season.

Jordan Clarkson beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer to give Utah a 92-75 lead entering the fourth quarter, where the Jazz have been one of weakest finishers among playoff teams and the Suns have been the best.

BOOOOO-ZER HONORED

Carlos Boozer, who was a two-time All-Star with the Jazz, was honored during the third quarter to a standing chorus of Boooos — as was the custom in his 2004-10 Utah career. The Jazz haven’t been back to the Western Conference Finals since Boozer led them there in 2007.

BRIDGES FOR DPOY?

Besides his big shots in the clutch, Bridges helped hold Mitchell to 0-for-6 shooting in the fourth quarter.

“I’m not a politician, nor am I eloquent with pushing people,” Williams said, “but you can’t look at the effort that that young man puts forth every night on that end of the floor and then does what he does on offense.”

Bridges appreciated his coach’s opinion.

“Obviously I want that, but control what you can control so I just keep defending,” Bridges said.

TIP-INS

Suns: A pocket of Suns fans chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” when Booker shot free throws. … Officials reversed a foul call on Danuel House guarding Booker on a jumper in the third quarter, ruling Booker created the contact with a leg kick. … JaVale McGee got a technical in the fourth period.

Jazz: Grammy award winner Olivia Rodrigo, who filmed the High School Musical and her “Drivers License” music video in Utah, sat courtside in a Jazz jersey. … Mitchell led a rousing ovation for House after a number of hustle plays in the third quarter. … The Jazz had 33 free throws attempts to the Suns’ 15 attempts from the line.

UP NEXT

Suns: At Sacramento on Sunday.

Jazz: At Portland on Sunday.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

NBA-best Suns overcome 17-point deficit in 4th to beat Jazz