Field Level Media
Mar 14, 2019
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points to help the Utah Jazz record a 114-97 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 20 rebounds for the Jazz, who halted a two-game slide. Utah has defeated the Suns by an average of 23 points while winning each of the past five meetings.
Derrick Favors added 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Joe Ingles scored 15 points, and Jae Crowder had 12 for the Jazz, who outscored Phoenix 36-22 during the fourth quarter.
Devin Booker scored 27 points for the Suns, who lost for just the third time in eight games. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18 points, Tyler Johnson scored 15, and Richaun Holmes had 11.
Phoenix rookie standout Deandre Ayton managed just two points on 1-of-9 shooting. Ayton collected nine rebounds.
Utah connected on 46.7 percent of its field-goal attempts and was 12 of 33 from 3-point range. Mitchell was 4 of 6 from behind the arc.
The Suns made 43.9 percent of their shots, including 7 of 19 from long range.
Ayton scored his first points of the game on a short basket with 10:48 remaining. Utah followed by scoring seven of the next nine points to take an 89-79 advantage with 8:29 left.
Gobert's dunk increased the lead to 95-82 with 6:35 left. Phoenix later moved within 99-89 on Booker's 3-pointer with 4:06 remaining before the Jazz scored the next 11 points.
Mitchell and Ingles drained back-to-back 3-pointers during the spurt to help create distance, and Utah closed out the victory.
The Jazz held a 14-point advantage early in the third quarter before the Suns responded with a 12-2 burst to pull within 59-55.
Phoenix later caught Utah at 75 on two free throws by Booker with 30.8 seconds left. Ingles drained a 3-pointer with 11.7 seconds remaining, and the Jazz took a 78-75 edge into the final stanza.
Mitchell drained a 3-pointer late in the first half to give the Jazz a 12-point lead, and they settled for a 53-43 advantage entering the break.
--Field Level Media