When Chris Paul joined Devin Booker on the Phoenix Suns following a trade last season, deciding who would be the game's finisher wasn't always straightforward.
It's just common sense these days. For example, on Wednesday night, Booker carried the Suns for three quarters until Paul clinched the deal.
With a 105-97 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, Booker had 43 points and 12 rebounds, Paul scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and the Suns stretched their winning run to eight games.
"It's a pleasant feeling now," Booker added, "but it comes with a learning curve." "We went through a lot of trial and error, but we've now been in enough scenarios to know what to anticipate."
Booker led the Suns through three quarters, but he didn't get a chance in the fourth until 3:45 remaining, when he missed a runner. With his mid-range shots and drives to the hoop, Paul took up the offensive load.
"You can only create trust by playing games together, close games like that," Paul explained.
When Hassan Whiteside was called for an offensive foul and a technical, the Jazz were down 98-94. To give the Suns the space they needed, Booker made two technicals surrounding a jumper that beat the shot clock.
The Jazz got a lift from Jordan Clarkson, who scored 16 of his team-high 26 points in the fourth quarter while playing without Donovan Mitchell (concussion) and Rudy Gobert (left calf strain). For the Jazz, who lost their eighth game in a row, Whiteside had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Mike Conley had 16 points and 10 assists.
"We're now playing without Rudy and Donovan. But that doesn't rule out the possibility of returning.... This is about continually committing to the things that allow you to (develop) "Utah coach Quin Snyder expressed his dissatisfaction with his team's uneven effort.
Jae Crowder (wrist) and Deandre Ayton (ankle) were both out for the Suns, but Bismack Biyombo had 12 points in his first start of the season.
When he had suitors attempting to get him back to the NBA, he claimed it was only "a gut feeling" to choose Phoenix, but he added playing with Paul and Booker made the decision easy.
"They have a knack for bringing games to a close.... Believers have intentions rather than wants. Those people are strong-willed "Biyombo said.
The Suns just outhustled and outran the Jazz early on, converting errors and missed shots into easy transition points. With 21 points, Booker outscored the Jazz alone in the first quarter, and the Suns blocked five shots on route to a 39-18 halftime advantage.
Phoenix coach Monty Williams said, "Chris can read the game, and when Book gets it rolling like that, he often goes to setups where he can get him in catch-shoot scenarios." "However, I believe our squad benefits from him when he's in a groove like that."
Booker scored 26 points in the first half, which was a season record for the Suns, but they went 5 for 17 in the second.
On Monday, he scored 33 points on 35 field goal tries, but he was significantly more effective this time, going 16 for 28 and adding nine free throws. With 16, Booker became the Suns' all-time leader in games with 40 or more points.
"These are times I don't take for granted," Booker remarked. "Coming into a difficult Utah venue with a raucous crowd and only having nine men and yet winning — that's why you see a smile on our faces."
The Jazz were frustrated by the Suns' top-ranked defense until Clarkson starting hitting some outside jumpers.
"We're simply trying to figure out where we're going. Regardless of the setbacks, I believe we're on the right track in terms of remaining connected "Despite Utah's worst run of the season, Conley said.
The same clubs met again on Monday, with Phoenix winning 115-109 against a Jazz squad that was severely depleted. Conley, Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Royce O'Neale were absent in Phoenix, but will play in the rematch on Wednesday.
ALL-STAR STARTER SNUB?
Booker was ranked fifth among guards in the Western Conference in the most recent NBA All-Star vote tabulations. That, according to his coach, is a joke.
"It's ludicrous that so many men are receiving so many more votes than him," Williams added. "You know he should be a starter on the All-Star team when you look at what he's done not just recently but all season long and the victories we've had, and tonight was one of those games where I believe he proved that point."
Booker, who at times heard cries of "M-V-P!" from the Utah audience, says he's no longer concerned about votes.
"I'm in a new part of my career now," Booker added, "and I'll let politics and the media popularity contest work themselves out."
The starting lineup will be revealed on Thursday.
TIP-INS
Suns: JaVale McGee (knee), Frank Kaminski III (knee), and Cameron Payne (wrist) are among the key Phoenix players who are injured. In the second quarter, Booker received a technical foul. The Suns outscored the Jazz 22-3 on fast breaks and took advantage of Utah's 14 turnovers to score 22 points.
Bogdanovic flung the splint that was covering his left ring finger avulsion fracture after a scoreless first quarter with two turnovers, but it was back on when he returned in the second quarter. Trent Forrest twisted his ankle in the fourth quarter after making a twisting baseline jumper. The Jazz only had a two-point lead once in the game.
UP NEXT
On Friday night, the Suns will host Minnesota.
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