The Republic discusses the Suns’ upcoming homestand, matchup with Spurs
The Phoenix Suns begin a 3-game homestand on Oct. 29, in which they host the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs.
Republic staff
The Phoenix Suns snapped a four-game losing skid with a 118-96 revenge win over the Utah Jazz in NBA Cup West Group A play before a sellout crowd of 17,071 Friday, Oct. 31, at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Suns lost Oct. 27 at Utah (2-3) in overtime, 138-134.
Devin Booker paced the Suns (2-4) one day after his 29th birthday with a season-high 36 points, giving him four straight 30-point games. He’s churned out at least 30 in five of Phoenix’s six games.
This is the first time Phoenix has held a team under 100 points this season.
Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen delivered a team-high 33 points after he scored a career-high 51 points Monday.
Former Suns big Jusuf Nurkic managed seven points and six rebounds in 17 minutes for Utah. The Suns will conclude their three-game homestand against the unbeaten San Antonio Spurs (5-0).
Suns two-way player out with hip contusion
Isaiah Livers has been ruled out the remainder of Friday’s game with a right hip contusion.
A two-way player, Livers had a right hip reshaping procedure in October 2024 that sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season.
He played three minutes in the first half, scoring zero points on one shot attempt. Livers had worked his way into the Suns rotation. With Livers out, rookie Rasheer Fleming has moved from sitting behind the bench in the second row of seats to sitting in the first row of the Suns bench.
Suns 23-2 run fuels halftime lead
The Phoenix Suns closed the first quarter with a 23-2 run in taking a 54-40 halftime lead.
The Suns trailed 19-2 in their first matchup that ended in an overtime loss Monday night to the Jazz in Utah.
Devin Booker paced the Suns with 17 points in the first half. The Suns led, 37-17, after one.
Lauri Markkanen has 11 points at the half to lead the Jazz after scoring a career-high 51 points against the Suns earlier this week.
The Suns played harder, faster and with more pace and tempo than the Jazz right from the start. Jordan Ott played Jordan Goodwin, a defensive presence, in the first half and he impacted the game right away on that end of the floor.
Phoenix led by as many as 24 points in the first half. Utah closed the half on a 16-6 run.
The Jazz had 28 offensive rebounds in Monday’s win over Phoenix. They managed only three in the first half Friday.
Suns sticking with same starting lineup
The Suns will once again start Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, Royce O’Neale and Mark Williams for a second straight game.
The Jazz are starting Keyonte George, Svi Mykhailiuk, Kyle Filipowski, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler.
Williams is getting his second start of the season after a 20-point, 11-rebound effort in the Oct. 29 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He went for 25 points and 11 rebounds in the first matchup against the Jazz, but didn’t start the game.
Suns coach Jordan Ott has played 10 players in the Sacramento, Utah and Memphis games. This is a small sample size, but this is something to watch as the season progresses in terms of whether Ott expands or reduces the rotation moving forward.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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