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Booker scored 35 points and Chris Paul
contributed 29 points and nine assists as the Suns, who have the
NBA's second-best record, held on for their seventh victory in a
row.
Booker got the Suns off to a quick start in OT with a layup, and
Paul finished it off with free throws late in the extra session.
Utah never led in overtime.
Deandre Ayton also had a strong showing with 18 points, 12
rebounds and three blocks for Phoenix, which picked up its
second win in two meetings with the Jazz this season.
Donovan Mitchell registered 41 points and eight rebounds for the
NBA-leading Jazz, and he forced overtime with a clutch 3-pointer
late in regulation. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 20 points and Rudy
Gobert tallied 16 points and 18 rebounds for the Jazz, who have
lost two in a row on the road after a nine-game winning streak.
Phoenix's offensive rebounds (16) and the Jazz's poor 3-point
shooting (11 of 44) were key factors on a night when every
possession mattered.
The Suns jumped out to a quick start, using a 13-0 spurt for an
early 13-2 lead. Utah bounced back with six straight points and
went on to hold a 21-20 lead after the first quarter.
Booker scored 12 points in the second quarter and the Jazz
struggled offensively as the Suns took a 51-40 halftime lead.
Utah came out of the locker room and looked much more like
itself, scoring 38 points in the third quarter to regain a lead
going into the fourth. Conley hit a buzzer-beater to secure a
78-77 edge for Utah.
The fourth quarter felt like a playoff game, with each team
hitting clutch shots and refusing to give up ground.
The Suns had a four-point lead late in regulation, but the Jazz
got a three-point play on a Mitchell drive and Gobert free
throw. After Paul sank a jumper, Mitchell drained a 3-pointer in
a crowd to tie the score with 10.8 seconds remaining.
Booker missed a potential game-winning long jumper at the
buzzer, sending the contest to overtime.
Neither team has much time to think about this game. The Jazz
return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday while
the Suns head to Los Angeles for a late Thursday game against
the Clippers.
--Field Level Media
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