Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns: Keys to the Game

Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) makes a pass against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and center Alex Len (21) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) makes a pass against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and center Alex Len (21) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA: Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz
NBA: Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz

Prediction – Jazz 106, Suns 101

While I’d love to see Utah roll to a comfortable victory over a Suns team that is posting a dismal record on the season so far, both games this year have been closely contested and particularly with Rodney Hood sidelined, I expect a similarly hard-fought bout tonight.

The Suns are young and inexperienced but have some talented up-and-comers in the likes of Devin Booker, TJ Warren and Marquese Chriss. While they often have their off nights, they’ve also proven capable of getting hot and surprising even the league’s best.

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Nevertheless, as the old mantra goes, good teams find a way to win and bad teams find a way to lose. Even if this game comes down to the wire, I suspect that the Jazz will prove their mettle and grind out a victory in the fourth quarter just as they’ve done in the past two games against Phoenix.

Doing so would not only extend the Jazz’s winning streak to four games but it would be a great way to go into three days of rest before preparing to face Dallas and Indiana in back-to-back games that should be very winnable for a rising Jazz team.

Next: Utah Jazz Week Thirteen Outlook, Predictions

All stats courtesy of NBA.com