Utah Wallops Short Handed Phoenix 108-86

I guess deep down I’m one of those guys that see the glass half full rather than half empty, so I’m going to start out this game story by giving credit to the Phoenix Suns. Without three of their starters, Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Grant Hill, Phoenix only trailed the Utah Jazz 73-64 at the 7:39 mark of the third quarter. I think that is quite an accomplishment, unfortunately that is when the loss of the team’s three stars caught up with them and they would ultimately lose the game 106-86. Mehmet Okur led Utah with a double-double, 22 points, a game high 17 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block.

Nash was out sick with the flu, Marion has a bruised right shoulder and elbow, and Hill just had his appendix out and is gone for two weeks. So as far as Phoenix having a realistic shot to hang on for a victory, well stranger things have happened in the NBA, but I can’t remember where or when. Utah sprang out to a 35-28 lead at the end of the first quarter,?and extended it at the half to 58-48. Although Phoenix stayed competitive for part of the third quarter, they were far behind by the end of the period at 86-60. Phoenix was never a factor in the fourth quarter.

Okur shot 9-19 from the floor, 3-9 from outside the arc, and 1-2 at the line for his team high 22 points.?Ronnie Brewer tied his career high with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, Carlos Boozer scored 18 points, but?had only 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 steal. Deron Williams had a double-double, 17 points, a game high 11 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, Kyle Korver scored 11 points off the bench, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.

Leandro Barbosa shot 7-18 from the floor, 3-10 from three point range, and 8-10 at the charity stripe, for a game high 25 points, 5 assists, 5 boards, 2 steals. Amare Stoudemire had a double-double, 21 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist, 1 steal. He was the only other Suns player in double figures. Utah is now 20-17 after the win, Phoenix is now 25-11.