Jazz Use Third Quarter Surge To Best Suns
Dec 14, 2020, 9:45 PM | Updated: 9:57 pm
Utah Jazz center Derrick Favors (15) reaches for the ball in front of Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) and Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during a preseason NBA game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz beat the Phoenix Suns 111-92 in both teams’ second preseason game.
The team’s starters played through the first three quarters, with those competing for a spot on the roster coming in and playing the fourth.
The Jazz held a 49-48 lead at halftime, but came out from the locker room connecting on a barrage of three-point shots. Utah went 3-5 from deep in the first four minutes of the third quarter, extending their lead to double digits. The Jazz scored 38 points total in the quarter, and finished the game 12-39 from the three-point line.
Bojan running it up to start the second half 🔥#TakeNote | @44bojan pic.twitter.com/tQMgjeg11X
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) December 15, 2020
“We played good defense in the first half, but turnovers didn’t help us,” said Jazz head coach Quin Snyder. “So, once we got that figured out and we kept guarding, you know, we played a lot better.”
Five players scored in double figures for the Jazz, led by Bojan Bogdanovic’s 18 points. Rudy Gobert chipped in a double-double, 11 points and 20 rebounds.
Royce O’Neale once again sat out for Utah, while Mike Conley made his 2020-21 debut for the team with 16 points and 3 assists.
The team’s young players also impressed in their second games. Miye Oni had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, while newly-drafted rookie Udoka Azubuike threw down a highlight-worthy slam late in the game. However, just moments later, Azubuike committed a flagrant 2 foul against Abdel Nader and was ejected
lob on the 💵#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/K679nWKsGh
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) December 15, 2020
The Jazz have one more preseason game. They’ll visit the Los Angeles Clippers on December 17 at 8:00 p.m.
The game will be shown on AT&T SportsNet.
