Shorthanded Jazz Roll To Sixth Straight Win
Apr 3, 2019, 10:36 PM
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Utah Jazz scooped up their sixth straight win with a 118-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The Jazz played the game extremely shorthanded. Prior to gametime, the team announced that they would be without Derrick Favors, Kyle Korver and Jae Crowder as well as Dante Exum, who recently underwent surgery on his knee. Then, minutes before gametime, Ricky Rubio was ruled out with hamstring tightness.
The Suns took advantage of Utah’s much maligned roster by roaring out to an early 10-0 lead.
Unfortunately for Phoenix they lost their star player, Devin Booker, to a rolled ankle midway through the first quarter. He would be out for the remainder of the game, but not before scoring a quick eight points.
Joe Ingles: Peoples champ pic.twitter.com/w8jZ6MFbEl
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 4, 2019
The absence of Booker likely had a lot to do with the Jazz resurgence as the game went on. Although the Suns led by as much as 13 in the first quarter, the Jazz came back and took the lead at 40-39 midway through the second quarter.
Utah built a lead as large as nine before holding a 56-53 advantage at halftime.
On occasion, the Suns pushed the Jazz and brought the score within a few points throughout the second half. However, the efforts of the healthy Jazzmen kept Phoenix at bay as they rolled to their sixth straight win.
Put a bow on it pic.twitter.com/PibPKGHAhd
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 4, 2019
Key Stats
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz in scoring with 29 points.
Joe Ingles was stellar, especially in the second quarter, where he was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field with four 3-pointers made. Of his 27 total points, 15 came in the second period. He finished with six made triples.
Rudy Gobert turned his Jazz-record 63rd double-double of points and rebounds of the season with 17 points and 13rebounds. He also had five blocks in the win.
And he's only getting started 😎#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/rZxx6JMeus
— x – Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 4, 2019
Grayson Allen made just his 34th appearance of the season and was a valuable part of helping the Jazz take the lead in the second quarter. He turned in a season-high 14 points in the win.
As a team, the Jazz were great from beyond the arc, converting on 16 of 32 attempts.
Jimmer Fredette played a season high in minutes for the Suns and scored 10 points.
Next Up
The Jazz will return home for their penultimate home game of the regular season against the Sacramento Kings on Friday. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
