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    • Booker, Beal lead Suns past Jazz in NBA Cup opener
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    Booker, Beal lead Suns past Jazz in NBA Cup opener

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    Devin Booker scored 15 of his game-high 31 points (11 of 20, five 3s) in the final quarter to propel the Phoenix Suns to a 120-112 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

    This was both teams’ first game in the NBA Cup Western Conference Group B, the league’s season tournament.

    Bradley Beal had the Suns’ most complete game on both ends of the court with his 24 points (4-for-7 from deep), four assists, two steals and two blocks.

    Mason Plumlee contributed a game-high 15 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and a block in replacing the Suns’ injured starting big Jusuf Nurkic (ankle). Kevin Durant’s replacement (calf), Ryan Dunn, had eight points. Dunn’s fellow rookie teammate Oso Ighodaro had his season-high 12 rebounds, six points and two blocks, and Grayson Allen scored 15 points (four 3s, 50% FG) off the bench.

    John Collins had the Jazz’s high with 29 points and 11 boards.

    The Suns held the lead from eight minutes into the first quarter and then took control of the match after increasing the largest margin to 18 in the second quarter.

    The Suns will next face the Sacramento Kings in the second of their four-game road trip, and the second of back-to-back games, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Phoenix lost to the Kings at home on Sunday, 127-118.

    Grayson Allen scored seven of his 15 points to keep Phoenix on top, 87-79, over Utah to end the third, with a hot hand from 3-point range, leading 4-of-6.

    Devin Booker has 16, Bradley Beal 17 for Phoenix.

    After falling behind by 15 early in the period, the Jazz went on a 21-2 run to cut the lead to six after four minutes, but Allen’s shooting extended the lead again.

    Bradley Beal scored five of his team-high 13 points (3-for-5 from deep) in the second quarter for Phoenix, which leads 64-49 at intermission.

    The Suns had a 12-0 run early in the second quarter, which was highlighted by back-to-back 3s from Grayson Allen (eight points). That increase extended the Suns’ largest lead to 18. They have shot a stellar 58.5%, including 9 of 17 from 3, and are outscoring the Jazz, 13-3 from the open floor.

    Additionally, the Suns had 9 blocks, one shy of tying their franchise record for blocks in a half.

    Utah’s top scorer is still John Collins with 13 points.

    Booker, Suns ahead after first quarter

    Phoenix leads Utah 33-21 after the first period.

    Devin Booker scored nine points and added three assists to lead Phoenix’s offense. After a tight early margin, the Suns took the lead with a pair of 7-0 runs around the middle of the quarter, including the second that established their largest lead of 12, capped off by Booker’s 3 at 2:43.

    The Jazz’s John Collins has a team-high nine points.

    Starting lineups

    The Suns have Mason Plumlee making his first start, replacing center Jusuf Nurkic (out, ankle). Rookie forward Ryan Dunn replaces Durant (calf) for the second straight game. Tyus Jones, Booker and Beal round out their starting five.

    Jazz second-year guard Keyonte George (foot) will start after being upgraded to available. Collin Sexton is in the backcourt with George, Lauri Markkanen at the four, rookie swingman Cody Williams and John Collins in the middle.

    Suns, Jazz injury reports

    In addition to Durant, the Suns’ starting big Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) is questionable, and backup point guard Collin Gillespie (ankle) is out.

    The Jazz’s starting guard Keyonte George (foot) is questionable. Their top shot blockers Walker Kessler (hip), Jason Preston (personal) and Taylor Hendricks (right leg surgery) are out.

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