Salt Lake City, UT — October 27, 2025
The Phoenix Suns fought their way back from a 20-point deficit to force overtime, but Lauri Markkanen delivered a career performance as the Utah Jazz held off the Suns 138–134 at the Delta Center.
Markkanen poured in 51 points and 14 rebounds, hitting all 17 of his free throws, including the final two with just 1.9 seconds left in overtime to seal it for Utah.

First Quarter: Jazz Catch Fire Early
The Jazz came out scorching. Keyonte George and Svi Mykhailiuk drilled multiple threes as Utah blitzed Phoenix 39–27 in the opening frame. Walker Kessler’s energy at the rim kept the Suns off balance, while Phoenix struggled to find a rhythm offensively. Devin Booker scored 8 early points, but turnovers and transition defense hurt the Suns as Utah built a double-digit cushion.

Second Quarter: Suns Start to Settle In
Phoenix slowly found its footing behind Grayson Allen and Mark Williams. Allen’s sharpshooting and Williams’ hustle plays off the bench gave the Suns some life. Still, Markkanen was unstoppable—pouring in 20 points by halftime. Utah led 64–52 at the break, controlling both the glass and the tempo.

Third Quarter: Booker Takes Command
Devin Booker took matters into his own hands after halftime. The All-Star guard carved up the Jazz defense, scoring 14 points in the third while setting up teammates with precision. Royce O’Neale chipped in with timely rebounds and defense, keeping the Suns within striking distance. Despite Booker’s push, Utah’s frontcourt duo of Markkanen and Kessler extended the lead back to 12 heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter: Suns Refuse to Fold
Down 12 entering the final frame, Phoenix unleashed one of their best quarters of the young season. Booker orchestrated an offensive masterpiece—finding Allen on the wings and Williams inside. The Suns exploded for 38 fourth-quarter points, with a clutch put-back by Williams forcing overtime at 122–122. The energy swung completely, and the Suns looked poised to steal one on the road.

Overtime: Markkanen Finishes the Job
In the extra frame, it was all Markkanen. The Finnish forward attacked mismatches and got to the line with ease. Keyonte George added a dagger three from the top of the arc to push Utah ahead 136–132. Booker’s late three trimmed it to two, but Markkanen’s free throws with under two seconds left ended Phoenix’s comeback bid.

Final Box Score Leaders
​Phoenix Suns:

Utah Jazz:

Stats That Told the Story

Takeaways for Phoenix
1. Booker’s Leadership: He continues to be the heartbeat of the team, showing poise under pressure.
2. Williams’ Emergence: The young big man is making a case for more minutes with his rebounding and finishing.
3. Rebounding Woes: The Suns’ frontcourt must tighten up; losing the glass battle by double digits won’t cut it.
​4. Late-Game Discipline: Too many fouls on Markkanen cost Phoenix crucial possessions.
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​Up Next
​The Suns drop to 1–3 and head home to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. With morale still high despite the loss, Phoenix will look to rebound and turn close contests into wins.
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