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The Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns enter Friday's matchup on diverging paths this season. While the Suns sit just above .500 at 12-11, the Jazz have struggled mightily, posting a dismal 5-18 record. However, recent trends suggest this could be a tightly contested affair.
Over their last 10 games, the Suns have found their offensive rhythm, averaging a robust 114.4 points per contest while shooting nearly 49% from the field and just over 40% from beyond the arc. Their ball movement has been crisp, dishing out 28.2 assists per game during this stretch. Defensively though, they've been merely average, surrendering 115.4 points on average.
Conversely, the Jazz have shown signs of life offensively over their last 10 games, scoring 111.7 points per outing while shooting 47% from the floor. However, their defensive struggles have persisted, allowing a concerning 119 points per game. Turnovers have also plagued Utah, coughing up the ball 17.6 times per contest during this span.
Looking at the season-long numbers, Phoenix has been a slightly above-average offensive team, averaging 113 points on 46.8% shooting. The Suns have excelled at sharing the rock, dishing out 26.8 assists per game while taking care of the basketball, turning it over just 13.5 times. Utah, on the other hand, has been one of the league's worst offensive teams, mustering only 109.2 points per game on a 45.5% clip.
While Phoenix's defensive numbers don't jump off the page, allowing 113.9 points per game, they've been considerably stingier than the Jazz, who have surrendered a whopping 118.7 points per contest. If Utah can't tighten up its defense, the Suns' balanced attack could prove too much to overcome, despite the Jazz's recent improved offensive showings.