Suns at Jazz
The Utah Jazz have the worst record in the NBA but will be riding a rare dose of momentum when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Utah posted an overtime victory on Monday – its second win of the campaign – over a Chicago Bulls’ squad dealing with the hangover associated with Derrick Rose’s season-ending knee injury. The Jazz now try to notch consecutive wins for the first time this season when they face the Suns.
Phoenix point guard Goran Dragic matched a season high with 31 points and had 10 assists in a stunning 120-106 win over Portland on Wednesday that snapped the Trail Blazers’ 11-game winning streak. Dragic has averaged 22.7 points and 10.7 assists over the past three games while committing just five turnovers. Utah committed 22 turnovers and shot just 36.5 percent from the floor while losing 87-84 to the Suns in Phoenix on Nov. 1.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona (Phoenix), ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE SUNS (8-7): Forward Channing Frye had a season-best 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting against Portland as he continues to improve his conditioning after missing all of last season with an enlarged heart. The 30-year-old Frye is averaging 18.8 points and has made 14 3-pointers over the last four games as his minutes increased. “I was like, ‘Coach, I’m not tired,’” Frye said after Wednesday’s contest. “I was just getting frustrated with how we were playing (early in the game). We weren’t running and we weren’t getting stops. Coach trusted me, put me out there for the rest of the first half. I couldn’t have done it about two weeks ago.”
ABOUT THE JAZZ (2-14): First-round pick Trey Burke played a season-high 34 minutes against the Bulls and had 14 points and six rebounds in his fourth game since returning from a broken finger. Burke was 5-of-17 shooting and committed five turnovers as he is still searching for his rhythm after suffering the injury in mid-October. “The young fella is good,” veteran forward Richard Jefferson said afterward. “He’s only going to get better. He’s in a tough spot right now, as most rookies are just starting to get their rhythm, but he’s just getting going and there will be a learning curve.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix has won nine of the last 13 meetings.
2. Suns G Eric Bledsoe (shin) has missed six consecutive games and is questionable for Friday’s game.
3. Jazz C Enes Kanter (ankle) hopes to return after missing Monday’s win over Chicago.