On paper, it was a clash between first and fourth in the Western Conference. In fact, Utah was extremely weak, without its four stars Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic and Phoenix had a little less need to force its talent to win 115-109. The Suns started the game well and led by thirteen points in the middle of the second half, but the Jazz, led by Jordan Clarkson (22pts) and Trent Forrest (17pts), did not give up and came back to finally lead five points at the start of the last quarter.
However, the Suns can count on two exceptional players, Devin Booker and Chris Paul, who carried their team in the money-time. The guard finished with 33 points and the point guard with 27 (a season record), including 5 and 15 points respectively in the last quarter. The defending runners-up now have a record of 37 wins for 9 losses, equaling their record from the 2006-07 season. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday in Utah for a new confrontation. Without the return of the injured, the Jazz will probably not be able to hope for much.
