Phoenix Suns: Three Keys to Victory Over Utah Jazz
The Phoenix Suns take on the Utah Jazz tonight at 6:00 PM PST looking for a second straight win after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers while the Jazz simply hope to stop their three-game losing streak.
What are the main keys to a Suns victory tonight?
Feed The Big Man
After missing the last four games due to a hip injury, Deandre Ayton is expected to make his return to the lineup tonight.
In order to get Ayton back into a rhythm, Monty Williams must prioritize feeding him the ball down low in the post.
With Lauri Markkanen questionable to play, Ayton should be the best big man on the floor and will have the greatest opportunity to thrive on both the offensive and defensive end.
Ayton’s presence will also take some pressure off of Booker who has averaged 35.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the last four games. The Jazz are likely to put extra defensive attention on Booker leaving Ayton open to operate from wherever he wants.
Utah is a top five unit in rebounds per game, so Ayton's presence will be crucial on both ends of the floor upon his return.
Bench Monsoon
In Phoenix’s 125-105 victory on Saturday, one of the biggest things that stood out was the second unit.
T.J. Warren, Terrence Ross and Cameron Payne all scored in double figures which ultimately helped propel the Suns over Philadelphia. If Phoenix wants to ensure a win tonight, this trend needs to continue.
The Suns' second unit has been a little inconsistent since the Kevin Durant trade but is starting to become more reliable. Ross is at the forefront of that as his 30-point performance on Friday on top of his steady scoring against the Sixers is an extremely positive sign for Phoenix.
Injuries sidelining Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay and Collin Sexton will force Utah to upgrade bench players to the starting rotation which will give the Suns’ bench an opportunity to pounce on a depleted Jazz second unit.
Let Devin Booker Cook
This one is obvious. Devin Booker has been on an absolute tear as of late as he has only put up less than 20 points one time in the entire month of March.
Booker will clearly be the best player on the court tonight so this is his game to dominate. Not only can he score the basketball but is also a great facilitator on the floor creating opportunities for the rest of his teammates with all the extra attention that he warrants.
Durant is expected to make his Suns home debut on Wednesday so this will really be Booker’s last chance to showcase his skills as the number one option before his friend returns to the lineup.
If Booker takes control of this game the way the way he should, Phoenix should have no problem beating the Jazz. He's averaging 35 points per night the last four games.
