Durant, Beal combine for 61 to lead Phoenix Suns' rout of Utah Jazz for 3rd straight win

The Phoenix Suns (31-21) won 129-115 over the Utah Jazz (26-27) at home on Thursday.

Phoenix's rout of Utah completed a four-game sweep against Utah this season, and was the Suns' third straight win overall. The win also adds to Phoenix's highest win total over the .500 record mark this season, which was previously nine games.

In Devin Booker's absence from left hip soreness, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal lead all scorers with 31 and 30 points, respectively. Durant matched the team's starting center Jusuf Nurkic for the team-high eight rebounds, and Beal also recorded seven assists.

Phoenix dominated from the onset and played at a high pace, scoring 30 in fast break points, reached the game's biggest lead 19 twice in the second and third quarters. The Suns scored on 37 assists, and shot 59%, including 48.3% from the 3.

Grayson Allen reached his career-high 14 assists and added eight points for Phoenix. Two of the team's other starters Nurkic and Eric Gordon had 16 and 19 points, and Drew Eubanks had 12 off the bench.

Utah's Lauri Markkanen had the team-high 22 points and John Collins had 21 with the game-high 14 rebounds. The league's third-best shotblocker Walker Kessler sent back four shots, had 10 points, and nine rebounds in the loss.

The Suns' next game is at the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Suns regain largest lead behind Durant, Beal in 3rd quarter

Kevin Durant (game-high 29 points) hit a contested mid-range jumpshot to put Phoenix up 109-90 to end the third.

That 19-point margin matched the Suns' largest lead in the second quarter.

Durant has the smoothest highlight toward the end of the quarter with a sick hesitation crossover dribble move on Taylor Hendricks and finished with a dunk.

Bradley Beal scored seven of his 23 points, the game's second-most, in the third.

Utah began the third on 12-6 run to shave Phoenix’s lead to three through the 8:41 mark, Phoenix’s lowest since the start of the first quarter. Then Phoenix began to cruise from there after its own 13-0 run over the next two minutes.

Durant, Beal help Suns keep lead in 2nd quarter

Phoenix gained its biggest lead 19 points near the second quarter's midpoint and remain ahead of Utah at the half, 75-66.

Kevin Durant added four points to his game-high 23 points (10-of-15 shooting) and Bradley Beal contributed seven of his 16 for Phoenix in the second. Grayson Allen has reached both game-high and his career-high nine assists in addition to his six points.

The Jazz's leading scorer Lauri Markkanen got hot scoring 11 of his 13 (4-of-6 FG), and John Collins produced nine of this 13 in the second as well.

Phoenix continues its stellar shooting at 61.7%, including 9-of-18 from deep.

Durant, Suns on hot shooting start in 1st quarter

No Devin Booker? No problem as Kevin Durant picked up the scoring slack for Phoenix's 40-28 lead to end the first period.

Durant scored 19 points (8-of-13 FG) to lead all scorers, and Bradley Beal added nine.

The Suns came out hot and running, hitting 10-of-14 including 4-of-5 from the 3, had 11-0 advantage in fast break points (finished 11-0), and an 11-point lead through the 5:43 mark. Durant and Beal scored 11 and nine of the Suns’ first 26 points up to that moment.

Utah never led in the first quarter, and Phoenix's biggest lead was 16.

The Suns shot 62.5% overall including 5-of-8 from the perimeter.

Utah's Walker Kessler has his team's high eight points.

Starting lineups

The Suns will start Bradley Beal and their usual sixth man Eric Gordon to replace Devin Booker, forwards Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen, as well as Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.

The Jazz will open with Kris Dunn and Collin Sexton in the backcourt, forwards Lauri Markannen and John Collins, and one of the league's top shotblockers Walker Kessler.

Beal in for Suns

Bradley Beal (ankle) has been upgraded to available for Phoenix.

The Suns will have two of their top players in Beal and the league's fifth-best scorer Kevin Durant (28.3 points per game) on the floor.

Utah's Brice Sensabaugh (left hip soreness) has been downgraded to out.

Booker ruled out, Beal game-time decision vs. Jazz

Suns coach Frank Vogel said in the pregame media session that Devin Booker (left hip) will not play, and Bradley Beal (ankle) will see how he feels in warmups if he can be upgraded from questionable

Booker, Beal questionable for Suns

Devin Booker (left hip soreness) and Bradley Beal (right ankle sprain) are questionable against Utah.

Booker and Beal have had a string of injuries this season. Booker has a toe, foot, calf, and ankle injuries through the the end of November, which made him miss nine total games.

Beal currently has a nose fracture he suffered in Phoenix's loss at the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 21. He previously sprained his right ankle in Phoenix's home loss to New York on Dec. 15, and has had lower back injuries that made him absent for much of the first third of this season. Beal's missed 24 games in all.

Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) is the only other person on the Suns injury report, and has been out all season.

Utah forward Brice Sensabaugh (left hip soreness) is questionable. Utah's two-way players Johnny Juzang, Micah Potter, Jason Preston are out on assignment in the G League.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Durant, Beal lead Suns' rout over Jazz for 3rd straight win