Phoenix Suns

In a rematch of the 2021 NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns came away with a 131-107 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. Deandre Ayton led the way with 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting as Phoenix maintained the best record in the league at 45-10.

Ayton put Giannis on a poster 😳 https://t.co/M3HPbBHPTj

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 11, 2022

Chris Paul added 17 points and tied a season-high with 19 assists. For the Suns, it was their fourth straight win and 15th victory in their last 16 games. It was the first meeting of the season between last year's conference champions.  

The Bucks had their four-game win streak come to an end and fell to 35-22. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton both had 21 points in the loss. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

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Notable Stats

C Deandre Ayton, PHX: 27 points (12-of-14 FG), 7 rebounds

G Chris Paul, PHX: 17 points, 19 assists

G Devin Booker, PHX: 17 points (6-of-19 FG), 7 assists

G Jrue Holiday, MIL: 21 points

F Khris Middleton, MIL: 21 points

F Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL: 18 points (5-of-14 FG), 7 rebounds, 8 assists

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Suns Dominate Inside En Route to Big Victory

Phoenix looked like a team on a mission Thursday night. Every chance they got, the Suns aggressively drove the ball into the paint for high-percentage shots.

It also helped that Phoenix played a fairly clean game, giving up just three turnovers in the first half. Led by Ayton's strong performance inside, Phoenix took an eight-point lead into halftime. The big man scored 15 of his 27 points before heading into the locker room.

Three keys to that first half:

-Suns up 36-24 in points in the paint
-Suns up 9-4 in second-chance points
-17 assists to only 3 TOs

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) February 11, 2022

Just a real gritty half from the Suns. They shot 3-of-16 from 3 but still managed 64 points thanks to 17 assists, 36 points in the paint, 19 bench points and only three turnovers.

CP3 played 21 minutes. They want this one bad.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) February 11, 2022

The Ayton Show continued in the third quarter as the Suns blew the game open. He was able to take advantage of Milwaukee's undersized frontline, especially when Antetokounmpo wasn't guarding him. Ayton had Bobby Portis and others visibly frustrated because of his energy and activity down low.

Deandre Ayton and Bobby Portis were jostling in the paint. Foul on Portis. Portis gives Ayton a little something extra with his hands on him. Tech on Portis. Ayton just stood there and grinned

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) February 11, 2022

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL HIM DOMINAYTON 😤 pic.twitter.com/7DcLH7MfWW

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 11, 2022

Playoff Deandre Ayton is here, and you know he wanted to play well tonight after talking about how poorly he played against Giannis in last year's Finals. He looks determined. Inspired.

Plenty of motivAYTON.

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) February 11, 2022

No Brook Lopez or Giannis defending Ayton has changed this matchup. Bucks have been switching everything and the Suns are punishing them for it through DA. That's 19 points for him on 8-of-10 shooting.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) February 11, 2022

Phoenix took a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter and didn't take its foot off the gas. In addition to Ayton's efficient night, Mikal Bridges (18 points) shot 7-of-11, Cam Johnson (15 points) shot 6-of-8 and JaVale McGee (12 points) shot 6-of-9. 

ATTENTION SUNS FANS.

SLAM JOHNSON HAS TAKEN OFF! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/fH6ljaLZy3

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 11, 2022

The Suns' prowess inside was especially needed on a night where they shot 9-of-30 from beyond the arc.

Phoenix finished with a field-goal percentage of 56.7 and outscored Milwaukee in the paint 68-50. The team had 35 assists to just eight turnovers and every player that entered the game scored at least one point. It was a spirited effort clearly motivated by a desire to avenge last year's loss in the NBA Finals.

Thursday's win was a statement victory for the Suns, who are the clear front-runners to contend for a title this season.

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Bucks Run Out of Gas at End of Road Trip

Milwaukee obviously wasn't playing with the same motivation as it had in last year's finals, but it was clear that the team was a step behind the Suns throughout the night.

The Bucks got ran out of the building Thursday, losing steam in the second half after getting dominated inside by an aggressive Phoenix offense. The lackluster effort by Milwaukee came two days after a blowout victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in which Antetokounmpo went off for 44 points.

Things were much different against the Suns, as Antetokounmpo was limited to just six field-goal attempts in the first half. He scored all 18 of his points in the first three quarters, and it looked like he was ready for the West Coast road trip to come to an end.

Giannis at 10 points on eight shot attempts. He will turn it up at some point here. Suns taking advantage with an 11-point lead.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) February 11, 2022

I don't think the Bucks are going to have the legs for this one tonight with a shorthanded roster at the end of a west coast trip.

Suns up, 74-61, with 6:50 left in the third quarter.

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 11, 2022

Remember that time Giannis Antetokounmpo guarded both the alley and the oop and blocked Deandre Ayton at the rim in the Finals?

Well, he was a step slow there and Ayton just got him back.

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 11, 2022

The Bucks fell behind by as many as 27 in the second half. Head coach Mike Budenholzer waved the white flag halfway through the fourth quarter and pulled his starters.

These are the dog days of the NBA as we inch closer to the All-Star break. With a run of six straight home games on the horizon, it was clear the Bucks were ready to head back to Milwaukee. This is the type of loss that the team will put in its rearview immediately as it moves forward this season.

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What's Next?

The Suns will go for their fifth straight win Saturday when the Orlando Magic come to town. The Bucks will return to Milwaukee to start a six-game homestand Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Torrey Craig is reportedly heading back to the Phoenix Suns, who acquired the veteran wing from the Indiana Pacers for Jalen Smith and a second-round draft pick.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported details of the deal shortly before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

Craig was previously traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to Phoenix last March in exchange for cash considerations. The Suns had to give up a little more for him this time around after he signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Pacers in August.

The 31-year-old forward played an important bench role for the Suns during their playoff run last season. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.1 minutes across 22 appearances. He also shot 40.5 percent from three-point range.

He was playing a career-high 20.3 minutes per game for Indiana before the trade. He's putting up 6.5 points, 3.8 boards and 1.1 assists during the 2021-22 campaign.

Craig will likely return to a high-energy bench role upon his return to Phoenix.

Torrey Craig was loved in the Suns’ locker room last season. The chemistry was already extremely high, but this make it even better for their hopeful title run.

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 10, 2022

Meanwhile, Smith was the 10th pick in the 2020 draft, but he'd yet to break out with the Suns.

The 21-year-old University of Maryland product averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field in 29 games this season. He should receive more playing time in Indiana, which could aid in the development process.

I hope Jalen Smith gets his opportunity in Indy. He’s a good kid who wasn’t ready to contribute on a contender right away, but he was often playing at the wrong position and clearly showed potential. Wish Stix nothing but the best (which is as a 5)

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) February 10, 2022

Ultimately, Phoenix (44-10) is gearing up for another potential run toward the NBA Finals and Indiana (19-37) is starting to look toward the future amid a disappointing season.

Viewed through that lens, it's a potential win-win trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers' season might not be in the grave just yet, but that hasn't stopped their rivals from starting to dance.

Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne was the latest to clown the struggling Lakers, calling them the "worst team in the West."

"We the No. 1 team in the world and you worried about the f--kin' Lakers. They the worst team in the West," Payne said.

Cameron Payne came on @LateNightLakers twitter spaces and started talking CRAZY about the Lakers 👀👀👀

(Via @the6foot5) https://t.co/aosDS8g7eM

— PiñataFarms: Meme Maker (@pinatafarms) February 10, 2022

While the Lakers aren't actually the worst team in the West—hello, Houston...or Oklahoma City, depending on the day—they are nowhere near competing for a championship. The Lakers lost for the sixth time in eight games Wednesday night against a depleted Portland Trail Blazers team that spent the better part of a week jettisoning nearly every valuable rotation player.

Legends James Worthy and Magic Johnson ripped the team following the loss, which ranked high among the most listless performances of the season. The Lakers turned the ball over 21 times and allowed Portland to haul in 11 offensive rebounds—a sign of dispassionate, lackadaisical basketball.

The Suns, meanwhile, have established themselves as the top team in the West and carry a 3.5-game lead over the second-place Golden State Warriors. They've spent the entire 2021-22 campaign proving last season's Finals run was no fluke and are arguably the championship favorite at the moment. 

Chris Paul is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history, but he is still chasing his first championship in his 17th season. 

Despite playing in an era where every high-level athlete is defined by how many titles they win, Paul told JJ Redick on the Old Man and the Three podcast he is "at peace" with his life and career (starts at :45 mark):

Paul did make sure to point out he is "going to fight my ass off" to win a championship "this year, the next year, whenever it may be."

Prior to the 2020-21 season, Paul's teams only reached the conference finals once (2017-18 Houston Rockets). 

Last season was Paul's first appearance in the NBA Finals. He helped the Phoenix Suns take a 2-0 series lead before the Milwaukee Bucks rattled off four straight victories to win the championship.

The Suns' loss to the Bucks put Paul in the NBA record books as the only player whose teams have blown 2-0 playoff series leads four times. It was also the sixth time his teams have lost a postseason series in which they held a two-game lead at any point. 

Chris Paul’s teams blown leads:

2-0 vs Spurs in 2008
2-0 vs Grizzlies in 2013
3-1 vs Rockets in 2015
2-0 vs Blazers in 2016 (broken hand)
3-2 vs Warriors in 2018 (hamstring)
2-0 vs Bucks in 2021

He is the first player ever to blow four 2-0 leads in a best-of-7 series. pic.twitter.com/HZ6GZQaUZZ

— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 21, 2021

Paul has another great opportunity to get that elusive championship this season. The Suns' 41-10 record is the best mark in the NBA. They rank in the top three in offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating, per Basketball-Reference.com. 

Regardless of whether or not Paul wins a title, it's hard to argue with his resume over the past 17 seasons. He has been named to the All-Star team 12 times, including this season, All-NBA team 10 times and All-Defensive team nine times. 

Paul is currently leading the NBA in assists (10.5 per game) at the age of 36. 

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the red-hot Suns 124-115 on Thursday at State Farm Arena, putting an end to Phoenix's 11-game winning streak. They are now 25-26 on the season after a slow start. 

Despite being listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury, Trae Young had another incredible performance for the Hawks. Without him, Atlanta would've found itself in a difficult spot against a Suns team that is one of the best road teams in the NBA. 

The Hawks have mostly struggled at home this season, entering with a 14-12 record. Being able to stop the Suns is quite an accomplishment. If the team can keep that momentum moving forward, it will undoubtedly have the opportunity to make the postseason in a tight Eastern Conference. 

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Notable Stats

Trae Young, PG, ATL: 43 PTS, 5 AST, 1 STL

Devin Booker, SG, PHX: 32 PTS, 3 AST, 1 STL

John Collins, PF, ATL: 19 PTS, 10 REB, 1 AST

Mikal Bridges, SF, PHX: 24 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL

Kevin Huerter, SG, ATL: 19 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL

Chris Paul, PG, PHX: 18 PTS, 4 REB, 12 AST, 3 STL

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Trae Young Unstoppable in Return From Injury

Young missed Monday's game against the Toronto Raptors with a shoulder contusion, and he returned on Thursday against the Suns despite still feeling sore.

Even though he still wasn't 100 percent, the 23-year-old was the best player on the court and was a significant reason why the Hawks ended the Suns' winning streak.

Young finished with 43 points, five assists and one steal on 16 of 25 shooting from the floor and six of 11 shooting from deep.

Attack mode‼️ pic.twitter.com/cvEqhzaqYB

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2022

Ice back to back ❄️ pic.twitter.com/GLMdUehcQI

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2022

Turning defense to offense 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mXQ0uLcD5j

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2022

https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1489413412660514816

Quick trigger 🥶 pic.twitter.com/hiz0KQ9aVP

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2022

AND-ONEEEE pic.twitter.com/iiNg7SWoOF

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2022

ICE. CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/0VAO079Ef4

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2022

Performances like this from Young have become all too common, so we shouldn't necessarily be surprised that he can put up solid numbers when not 100 percent.

The All-Star entered Thursday's game averaging 27.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from deep. His average in points is the fourth-most in the NBA behind Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While Young is known to put up some pretty magnificent performances, some of those have been marred by the inconsistencies of his teammates, which have led to blown leads and losses.

Moving forward, Young's supporting cast will need to contribute like they did on Thursday night if the Hawks want to better their positioning in a tight Eastern Conference.

John Collins, De'Andre Hunter and Kevin Huerter were all impressive Thursday night. They need to keep that momentum moving forward.

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Deandre Ayton Still Trying to Find Footing Since Return From Ankle Injury 

Ayton recently returned to the Suns' lineup Tuesday after missing seven games with an ankle injury. After his performance in Thursday's game against Atlanta, it's clear he's still trying to find his footing.

In Tuesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets, the 23-year-old finished with 12 points and six rebounds. On Thursday against the Hawks, he finished with six points, nine rebounds and four assists. 

For comparison, Ayton entered Thursday's game averaging 16.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

The Hawks had their way in the paint and around the rim on Thursday night, finishing with 40 points in the paint and six offensive rebounds. Things could have gone much differently if Ayton had done a better job on defense.

Suns head coach Monty Williams ultimately decided to bench Ayton after he played just 24 minutes, signaling that he needed to be better. Though it should be noted there wasn't much anyone on the Suns could do to stop Young.

Ayton has been somewhat inconsistent this season, and if the Suns want to hold onto their top spot in the Western Conference, they'll need him to be better moving forward.

It'll also be important for Ayton individually to step up as he'll be looking to sign a large contract during the offseason.

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What's Next?

The Hawks will travel to face the Toronto Raptors on Friday, while the Suns will be on the road to take on the Washington Wizards on Saturday. 

Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul played through a shoulder injury in the first round of last year's playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers, and he told The Old Man and the Three podcast Thursday that it was so bad he couldn't shoot.

Paul suffered a right shoulder contusion in Game 1 of the series, and it limited him going forward.

"Game 2, I went out there. I don't even know why they was guarding me," Paul said. "I could not shoot it. I was faking the funk, though."

The guard finished with six points on 2-of-5 shooting in the 109-102 loss.

"I could not shoot at all," he added. "I couldn't raise my arm."

After another poor performance in a Game 3 loss, Paul said Suns coach Monty Williams considered benching him for Game 4. The veteran played and came through with 18 points and nine assists in a win, which turned the series around as Phoenix won three straight to advance.

It wasn't a pretty series for Paul, who averaged just 9.2 points per game while shooting 38.6 percent from the field. He shot just 2-of-10 from three-point range, including 1-of-9 after Game 1.

The 11-time All-Star improved as the playoffs progressed, averaging 23.5 points per game over the next three rounds as the Suns reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. He shot 52.3 percent from the field in that stretch, including 49.1 percent on 55 three-point attempts.

The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Suns in six games to win the championship, but Paul clearly did everything he could.   

It takes more than talent to be one of the best point guards in the NBA at 36 years old, and Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul reportedly spends a notable amount of money to maintain his physical health.

During Tuesday's TNT broadcast of the Suns' game with the Brooklyn Nets, Chris Haynes reported Paul spends approximately $1 million per year on body maintenance. The costs go to a variety of outlets, including trainers, nutritionists, a personal chef and a massage therapist.

Haynes also referenced a report that Paul's close friend, LeBron James, spends about $1.5 million annually on similar things.

It's hard to argue with the results for either.

While James is widely regarded as one of the best players in NBA history, Paul has a Hall of Fame resume as well that includes 10 All-NBA selections, nine All-Defensive selections, 11 All-Star Game nods, a Rookie of the Year Award, six steals titles, four assists titles and a spot on the NBA's 75th-anniversary team.

After playing for the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul came to Phoenix ahead of the 2020-21 campaign and led the Suns to the NBA Finals in his first year with the team.

The Wake Forest product is still playing at an impressive pace this season and is averaging 14.9 points, an NBA-best 10.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

Paul's ability to take over in crunch time and set his teammates up for success is a primary reason Phoenix has the best record in the NBA at 41-9 and is in championship contention even in a loaded Western Conference that features multiple contenders.

Many players his age would be well past their prime, but Paul rejuvenated the Suns franchise and continues to play at an All-Star level.

Maintaining his body to keep that up is expensive, but it also gives him a chance at his first championship.               

Make it 11 games in a row for the Phoenix Suns.

The NBA's hottest team just kept on rolling Tuesday night, beating the Brooklyn Nets 121-111 behind the star backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

CHRIS PAUL AT THE HALFTIME BUZZER 🚨

(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/8D53o3DiWT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 2, 2022

POINT. GOD.

(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/CoQc3uXFXB

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 2, 2022

Phoenix now has winning streaks of 17 and 11 games this season. Since the start of January, the team is 14-1. They have the best record (41-9) in basketball.

And the Suns got good news Tuesday to go along with the win, as center Deandre Ayton returned to the court for the first time since Jan. 16 after suffering a right ankle sprain.

Deandre Ayton back in the @Suns lineup...and back throwing down jams off of CP3 pocket passes!

📺 TNT pic.twitter.com/6HtDdeyoSa

— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2022

The Nets (29-21), meanwhile, lost their fifth straight game and were yet again without Kevin Durant, who is dealing with a sprained left MCL. James Harden did return for Brooklyn, however, after missing the past two games.

And Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes added to the team's misery, reporting during the game that a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams told him there were no plans to change the COVID-19 vaccine mandate that has forced Irving to sit out the team's home games given his unvaccinated status:

My @NBAonTNT report on Kyrie Irving and the New York vaccine mandate with a response from the office of NY mayor Eric Adams. pic.twitter.com/PAn0642Gip

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 2, 2022

If that mandate stretches into the playoffs, Irving will be a part-time player for the Nets. More bad news for a Brooklyn team reeling at the moment.

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Key Stats

Devin Booker, PHX: 35 points, six rebounds

Chris Paul, PHX: 20 points, 14 assists

Mikal Bridges, PHX: 27 points, eight rebounds

James Harden, BRK: 22 points, 10 assists

Kyrie Irving, BRK: 26 points

Blake Griffin, BRK: 17 points, six rebounds

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Devin Booker Was on One

When you're hot, these are the shots you hit:

D Book is dialed in from distance 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ukOC1s6F1T

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 2, 2022

Ooo Book, that's toughhhh 😎 pic.twitter.com/aTmV5dtGGX

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 2, 2022

DEVIN BOOKER IS IN THE ZONE.

He's got 35.

Get to TNT now! pic.twitter.com/4kLEremcXZ

— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2022

And Booker is hot.

He averaged 28.2 points per game in January. In the team's current winning streak, he's scored 30 or more points six times and exceeded 40 points twice. The man is cooking.

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James Harden Was a Bit Rusty

Harden was still up to his normal playmaking ways, but shooting 6-of-19 from the field (31.5 percent) and committing four turnovers wasn't exactly ideal.

MCGEE WITH A MONSTER BLOCK ON HARDEN 😳 pic.twitter.com/Q6yFTnfuMv

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 2, 2022

Cam Johnson has done a stellar job on James Harden tonight.

— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) February 2, 2022

Maybe against some teams, the Nets could survive a ho-hum game from Harden, even without Durant. Against these Suns, though, it was never going to cut it.

Generally speaking, the Nets have to take advantage of Irving's road appearances. It's hard to remember a team that has less of a home-court advantage than Brooklyn, with Irving having to sit out those games. That means the team has to steal some wins on the road.

With Harden struggling from the field, however, that wasn't going to happen Tuesday against the scorching Suns.

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What's Next?

The Nets have a back-to-back and travel to Sacramento to face the Kings on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET. The Suns travel to Atlanta to face Trae Young and the Hawks on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT).

Monty Williams already coaches arguably the best team in the NBA, but he will have a chance to coach a group of the best players in the league after he clinched his spot as one of the All-Star Game coaches.

Williams' Phoenix Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs 115-110 on Sunday, meaning they will be atop the Western Conference standings at the All-Star break regardless of what happens until then.

That means Williams will coach Team LeBron in the exhibition:

CLEVELAND BOUND ✈️

Coach Monty Williams and his staff have secured their spot to represent the Western Conference at #NBAAllStar.

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 31, 2022

The head coach will be joined by his staff for the game in Cleveland on Feb. 20.

They will lead Team LeBron as the Western Conference coaches because LeBron James was the leading vote-getter in the Western Conference. Whichever coaching staff is leading the Eastern Conference through Feb. 6 will coach Team Durant after Kevin Durant tallied the most votes on that side of the standings.

James and Durant will be joined by Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Nikola Jokic, Andrew Wiggins, DeMar DeRozan, Trae Young, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid as All-Star starters. The reserves will be announced Thursday on TNT.

Durant and James will first pick from the starters and then the reserves during the All-Star Game draft.

As for Williams' Suns, they are 40-9 and 3.5 games clear of the Golden State Warriors following the victory over the Spurs. Chris Paul dazzled with 20 points, 19 assists and eight rebounds, while Devin Booker (28 points) and Mikal Bridges (26 points) were the go-to scorers.

This is Williams' third season as the head coach of Phoenix, and he led the team to the NBA Finals last season.

Anything short of a championship this time around would fall short of the team's goals, All-Star Game or not.              

The Phoenix Suns notched their eighth straight win Wednesday with a 105-97 road victory over the Utah Jazz. Devin Booker led the way with 43 points and 12 rebounds as the Suns improved to 38-9, which remains the best record in the NBA.

It was Booker's 16th career 40-point game, setting a new franchise record.

The Biyombo block leads to the Booker slam on the @Suns fast break!

Phoenix and Utah NOW on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/gzaZbEnSmL

— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2022

https://twitter.com/BALLYSPORTSAZ/status/1486572778803412994

Chris Paul added 21 points with 15 coming in the fourth quarter. It was the second meeting in three days between the two teams, as the Suns also defeated the Jazz on Monday at home. Phoenix is now 19-4 in away games, the best in the league.

Utah fell to 30-19 after its third consecutive loss and has lost five of its last six games. Jordan Clarkson led the team with 26 points off the bench. Mike Conley added 16 points and 10 assists, and Hassan Whiteside had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Jazz were playing without two of their top three players as Donovan Mitchell (concussion) and Rudy Gobert (calf) sat out.

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Notable Stats

G Devin Booker, PHX: 43 points (16-of-28 FG), 12 rebounds

G Chris Paul, PHX: 21 points (15 in fourth quarter)

G Jordan Clarkson, UTAH: 26 points (off bench)

G Mike Conley, UTAH: 16 points, 10 assists

C Hassan Whiteside, UTAH: 16 points, 11 rebounds

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Booker's Big Night Powers Suns to Victory

It was the Devin Booker Show on Wednesday. Phoenix put the ball in the hands of its best player early and often, and he delivered.

Booker was in attack mode from the jump, pouring in 21 points in the first quarter on 8-of-11 shooting. He had no issues slicing his way through Utah's defense and getting to his spots.

The pump and the make. pic.twitter.com/DqPNqjOPIQ

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 27, 2022

17 PTS for Devin Booker in the first 👀

He's cooking early on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/iV6jUNH0Gt

— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2022

HELLO THERE! pic.twitter.com/cmy5PyA617

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 27, 2022

Devin Booker dropped 21 points in just the first quarter on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/CkppbxDW6R

— ESPN (@espn) January 27, 2022

Devin Booker with 21-6-4 through the first quarter. Jazz are right there alongside him with 18-10-6.

Suns up 21.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) January 27, 2022

With Booker leading the charge, the Suns jumped out to a 39-18 lead. But things got quiet in the second when Booker went to the bench, and the Jazz clawed their way back to make it a two-point game at halftime.

Devin Booker checks out and the Jazz go on a 12-4 run to start the 2Q

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) January 27, 2022

Devin Booker: 26 points, 4 assists, 10-15 FG

Rest of Suns: 24 points, 5 assists, 11-26 FG

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) January 27, 2022

Booker was aggressive coming out of the break with seven early points. He continued to carry the Suns on his back as no other player had over 10 points through three quarters.

Book on the attack. pic.twitter.com/4d7GdwyQ01

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 27, 2022

In case the math didn't stand out, Devin Booker has half of the Suns points and 14 of their 31 made FGs

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) January 27, 2022

Booker finally got some help in the fourth quarter as Paul woke up. The veteran point guard had 15 of his 21 points in the final frame. The Suns showed why they are the most clutch team in the league with their play down the stretch.

CLUTCH TIME.

BOOK IT! pic.twitter.com/n4PbHMFrIk

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 27, 2022

The Suns won Wednesday's game because they had the best player on the floor. Booker's performance made up for a mostly quiet performance from a Phoenix supporting cast that is usually pretty balanced on the offensive end.

Thanks to Booker's ability to carry the team, combined with Paul taking over late, the Suns will remain a difficult team to take down. Phoenix looks poised to make a second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.

---

Short-Handed Jazz Show Fight in Defeat

Utah knew it would be a struggle against the team with the best record in the NBA without its two best players. And things looked bleak after the Jazz fell behind by 21 after the first quarter.

But Utah refused to go down easily on its home floor and fought its way back with a strong second quarter. The Jazz played strong defense and ran the Suns off the three-point line. The team's offense woke up with Clarkson leading the way, scoring 10 points in the period. Utah outscored Phoenix 30-11 in the second quarter.

JC getting it LOUD in here 🗣🗣🗣#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/MdR1CPpZEz

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 27, 2022

Impressive comeback by the Jazz. Terrific second quarter for them. They trail the Suns 50-48…..and they got back into the game defensively. Stop after stop

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) January 27, 2022

Two big signs the offense is struggling:

-- Only 1 assist for someone outside of Booker and Paul

-- Only 9 3PAs

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) January 27, 2022

The Jazz tried to keep up in the second half, but they had no answer for Booker. Utah also struggled against Phoenix's defense and shot 29.4 percent from the field in the third quarter. The team's 64 points through three quarters was its lowest total of the season.

But once again, the Jazz didn't go down without a fight. Clarkson ignited the crowd in the fourth quarter with three early triples to cut the lead to single digits.

Jordan Clarkson drops 9 straight points for the @utahjazz 🔥

It's a 4-point game in the fourth on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/m1YULAXbef

— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2022

Jordan Clarkson's giving the Jazz a chance in this game through sheer tough shotmaking.

— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) January 27, 2022

Ultimately, the Suns were able to put the game away, but the Jazz made them work for it.

Despite the loss, Utah should be satisfied with its effort Wednesday. The team could've folded early but kept its composure and managed to make it a competitive game. Once the Jazz get back to full strength, they will have a better chance of keeping up with the elite teams in the Western Conference.

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What's Next?

The Suns will try to make it nine straight wins on Friday at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Jazz will look to end their skid in a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies that same day.