The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz started the season on different trajectories, but they each have a fresh start on Tuesday when they meet in Salt Lake City for their NBA Cup group play opener.
In last season’s inaugural NBA Cup, known then as the NBA In-Season Tournament, Phoenix advanced from their five-team group with a 3-1 record to reach the knockout round. Utah finished third in their group at 2-2.
This regular season, the Jazz struggled with an 0-6 start—their worst since 2013-14. However, they have won two of their last three games, including a 111-110 victory in San Antonio on Saturday. Collin Sexton’s free throws with 3.2 seconds left provided a necessary buffer as Devin Vassell hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Sexton scored a team-high 23 points, improving the Jazz to 2-1 when he scores 20 or more points this season. Sexton also scored 24 points in their 135-126 win at Chicago on November 4.
Lauri Markkanen contributed 20 points in his second game back after missing time with back spasms.
Rookie forward Kyle Filipowski played well against the Spurs, adding eight points, six assists, and five rebounds. Fellow rookie guard Isaiah Collier, filling in for the injured Keyonte George, scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out four assists in his second NBA game.
While Utah begins the NBA Cup coming off their second win of the season, Phoenix starts group play following only their second loss. The Suns lost to Sacramento 127-118 in overtime, ending their seven-game winning streak. Devin Booker scored 28 points, Bradley Beal added 23, and Tyus Jones recorded a season-high 22 points with Kevin Durant sidelined.
Durant sustained a left calf strain in Phoenix’s 114-113 win over Dallas on Friday, and the team announced he will miss at least the next two weeks. Beal, dealing with an elbow sprain, also collided with DeMar DeRozan on Sunday and underwent an X-ray on his left knee, which returned negative. Beal’s incident followed Jusuf Nurkic’s exit from the game with an ankle injury.
Veteran reserve Mason Plumlee has been praised by Coach Budenholzer for his play this season. Plumlee contributed six points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while fellow reserve Josh Okogie added nine points and five rebounds. Regardless of Beal or Nurkic’s status for Tuesday, Budenholzer will be looking for continued contributions from the bench.
