Grayson Allen Helps Suns Stun Jazz In Overtime Thriller
Feb 7, 2025, 11:52 PM | Updated: Feb 8, 2025, 10:30 am
Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Grayson Allen helped the Phoenix Suns avoid a catastrophic loss as his late-game heroics sunk the Utah Jazz 135-127.
The Jazz got double-doubles from Walker Kessler (19 points, 22 rebounds), Isaiah Collier (15 points, 13 assists), and Kyle Filipowski (11 points, 11 rebounds) but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Game Blog: Jazz Fall To Suns In Overtime After Grayson Allen Three
Grayson Allen Helps Suns Overcome Jazz
The Jazz trailed by 13 points with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter but rallied to build a 120-116 lead with just over four seconds left in regulation.
That’s when former Jazz guard Grayson Allen took over.
Allen knocked down a quick three with 1.2 seconds left on the game clock to cut the Jazz’s lead to one.
The Suns fouled Lauri Markkanen with 0.9 seconds left on the clock, sending the All-Star to the free-throw line with a decision to make.
Markkanen calmly knocked down the first free throw and could have missed the second attempt, leaving the Suns a fraction of a second to secure the rebound and call a timeout to advance the ball.
GRAYSON ALLEN SENDS IT TO OVERTIME AT THE BUZZER ‼️🚨 pic.twitter.com/z9IvsrGEO6
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2025
Instead, the Jazz forward sunk the free throw, allowing the Suns to call a timeout and draw up a play from halfcourt without the clock moving.
Just as he did on the previous possession, Allen connected on a buzzer-beating three to send the game to overtime where Phoenix outscored the Jazz 13-5.
“We gave up two catch-and-shoots in 4.5 seconds on poor switching, and if we had executed one of those switches properly, the game is a different result,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said.
On Allen’s first made three, John Collins switched onto the guard and offered a good contest, but the sharp-shooter got the ball off over the defender’s outstretched hand.
On the second make, Keyonte George was slow to fight over a Devin Booker three, allowing Allen an open look to send the game to overtime.
Jazz Identity Taking Shape With Collier, Kessler
The Jazz have been searching for cornerstone pieces that will help the team climb out of their rebuild, and they have found two in Collier and Kessler.
Collier recorded his third straight double-double with points and assists, becoming the first rookie in Jazz history to accomplish the streak.
The guard set a franchise record with 10 first-half assists but relied on his scoring prowess late to help the Jazz erase the Suns’ double-digit lead.
BIG BUCKET ROOK ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/aTwMCyX6TA
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 8, 2025
Over the final six minutes of regulation and overtime, Collier scored nine points on 4-6 shooting, including what looked like the go-ahead fade-away jump shot with four seconds left to play.
“My confidence is at an all-time high right now, especially playing along some of the best players in the world,” Collier said.
Kessler was also dominant late, recording seven points and eight rebounds over the final 11 minutes of the game while anchoring the Jazz’s defense.
𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿-𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝟮𝟮 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 for Walker tonight 🤠#PerformanceLeader presented by @uofuhealth pic.twitter.com/TeWeleNkPK
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 8, 2025
The center’s 22 rebounds were a career-high, all while adding four assists and three blocks.
Both players still have significant room to grow before being enshrined as the next faces of the franchise, but their recent play is building a strong argument.
Jazz Face Quick Turnaround Against Clippers
After falling to the Suns on Friday night, the Jazz will travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Saturday.
The Clippers represent the second stop on the Jazz’s three-game road trip that will conclude on Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
While all eyes will be on Luka Doncic’s Lakers debut against the Jazz on Monday, the Clippers will have to wait to see newly acquired Bogdan Bogdanovic make his debut.
The guard will miss Saturday’s contest as he continues his return to competition reconditioning after missing his previous six games with the Atlanta Hawks.
Former Jazzman Drew Eubanks is expected to be available for Los Angeles after a four point, five rebound debut in Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will travel to face the Clippers on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
