Game Preview: The Suns open up NBA Cup competition against the Jazz

On By Littum

WHO: Phoenix Suns (8-2) @ Utah Jazz (2-7)

When: 19:00 Arizona time

Where: Delta Center — Salt Lake City, Utah

Clock: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

It’s NBA Cup time! Coming off their second loss of the season, the Suns embark on a four-game road trip starting in Utah. This marks the first of four games in six nights and, on paper, the most manageable matchup of the tour. While it’s prudent to call any game “easy,” the Jazz’s 2-7 record and bottom of the Western Conference suggest that this is actually the most favorable challenge the Suns will face on their journey.

The hope is that a beaten Phoenix team has no problem with Utah. That they don’t play down to their level of competition, and despite notable injuries to Kevin Durant and possibly Jusuf Nurkic, they can easily dispatch Utah.

That would be nice, wouldn’t it? But the Suns haven’t had an easy win all season. Each game has been a battle that has come down to the wire and required strong clutch performances to secure victories. To their credit, they are 7-1 in clutch situations, but that’s not exactly the property you want to own.

The potential is there for an easy win over the Jazz, but any team can make it a contest. With talented professionals on every roster, playing on the road means Utah will have a puncher’s chance.

Likely starters

Damage report

Sun

  • Jusuf Nurkic — Doubtful (left ankle soreness)
  • Kevin Durant — OUT (Left Calf Strain)
  • Collin Gillespie — OUT (right ankle sprain)

Jazz

  • Keyonte George — DISSAYABLE (left foot)
  • Collin Sexton — AVAILABLE (Left Fourth Finger Impingement; Avulsion Fracture)
  • Taylor Hendricks — OUT (fractured right fibula)

Uniform Matchup

What to look for

Uh, the court? Duh!

The NBA Cup brings with it a differentiation, something that even the most casual person walking past a bar with open seating and access to a television might ask, “Um, what’s going on?” This differentiator is the court’s design.

That said, the Jazz NBA Cup circuit is pretty basic. It almost looks like they’re playing in Brooklyn. But the muted mountains in the background are a nice touch.

What happens on the court, it starts with the rookies for the Jazz. Isaiah Collier – someone I was high on in the draft – and Cody Williams both start for the team. The rookies will get plenty of playing time as Utah tries to do two things: develop their young players while pursuing the opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg.

We’ve seen the “rookie goes nuclear” scenario before, haven’t we? Victor Wembanyama had a breakout performance against the Suns last season. Keep an eye on how the Suns approach their defense this time around. Will they be aggressive and disrupt the rookie’s rhythm? Or will they make the mistake of allowing him to settle, encouraged by the home crowd and gain confidence, making him even harder to stop?

Utah enters this game with the league’s weakest offense, averaging just 105 points per game. game on a league-worst 42% shooting. They also lead the NBA in turnovers, committing 19.3 per game. game and ranks 26th in steals with just 5.8 per match.

However, Lauri Markkanen has consistently been a challenge for Phoenix, and seems to thrive against the purple and orange. He is averaging 21.1 points per game against the Suns, his second-highest scoring average against any team. Keeping him in check will be crucial.

The key to a Suns win

Why does it always feel like I’m emphasizing rebounding? With Walker Kessler on the other side, the last thing the Suns want is to give Utah a second chance. The extra chances can deflate a defense. Although it is not mandatory to win the rebounding battle, it is crucial to limit second chance points.

The Jazz are averaging 14.3 second-chance points per game. game, ranking 19th in the NBA (side note: the Suns are at 9.9, 29th in the league). If the Suns can hold Utah to under 10 second-chance points, they will be in a strong position to win comfortably.

Forecast

I can imagine a scenario where Phoenix loses this game. Such is life as a Suns fan or basketball fan in general. There’s always a twist, right? But even if the alternate reality exists, I think the Suns have too much firepower and talent to let this one slip away. Expect some back-and-forth in the first half, with the Suns holding an eight-point lead at halftime. In the end, depth and skill will prevail and the Phoenix will secure their ninth win of the season.

Suns 123, Jazz 108