The Utah Jazz are 2-1 in the preseason as they approach their final exhibition battle with the Phoenix Suns. Of course, that record will be of little significance from the moment this game is finished — we toss the results of the preseason into a massive bonfire on the eve of the regular season. I haven’t gotten your RSVP yet — you’re still coming, right?
The Suns, on the other end, enter this game with a 1-3 record in preseason play, losing their first two matchups against Detroit and Chicago, and a third
loss arriving against San Antonio.
Their lone win came at the expense of that same Spurs squad, a team that ran out their reserves from the opening tip against the Utah Jazz, but pushed out their starting lineup in both games against Phoenix. So was the decision to preserve their stars against Utah an effort in espionage? Keeping the matchups a mystery to the upstart Jazz? No Wemby, no Castle, no Harper, no Fox — not a single starter out on the court for the reigning Western Conference champions. A power move? A declaration of superiority?
I wouldn’t say so. Considering how Phoenix has kept their stars — the eternal Sun Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the newly acquired Miles Bridges — on the sidelines, I’d lean more toward an overabundance of caution. The Suns certainly struggled in the second leg of their series with the Spurs.
The Utah Jazz have looked excellent in their first few preseason contests. Keyonte George has grown into a man by his fourth year and is now the steady hand that grips the steering wheel of Will Hardy’s offense. But the engine, wheels, body, and suspension are the remainder of his rotational peers.
Lauri Markkanen hopes to return to All-Star form following a year in which he averaged nearly 27 points per game in 42 appearances.
Jaren Jackson Jr. bolsters the frontcourt behind exceptional defending and a floor-spacing jump shot.
Ace Bailey put on some muscle over the offseason and is picking his spots more effectively in his early playing time off the bench.
And Darryn Peterson, of course, is the piece that could elevate Utah’s ceiling from that of scrappy Play-In fodder to a potential Playoff panic. Playing the Tasmanian Devil and sending a storm through the straightforward Western Conference trail, if Peterson ascends to stardom quickly, it’s hard to imagine any team boasting the defensive versatility to halt the Jazz’s attack.
But for now, the Jazz have the luxury of patience on their side.
Each of George, Markkanen, Jackson, Peterson, and Bailey has three or more years left on their contracts, meaning Utah has already added all the ingredients and can afford to sit comfortably and give their dough some time to rise.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is in win-now mode, whether they’re ready or not.
They’ve traded away far too many first-round picks for comfort, with their most recent exchange sending an unprotected first to Charlotte for a return of Miles Bridges.
Otherwise, this is largely the same 8-seed team in the West, battling to simply remain relevant after already sinking their future for immediate payoff. They’re stuck — no way around it — and they have no choice but to go all-in now. We’ll see how another year of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks works out for Phoenix. Maybe Koa Peat’s fractured jump shot can be repaired in time to contribute this year, or Ryan Dunn can climb out of his slump by recapturing the magic he wielded in the first few weeks of his rookie season.
They were wiped from the face of the earth in a 4-0 sweep at the hands of Oklahoma City last season. The chances of a notably better result in 2027 aren’t high from where I’m watching.
ESPN agrees that Phoenix’s circumstances are dire; they’ve listed the Suns as the number-one most desperate team for winsin the entire NBA. Not good.
We’ll see who makes an on-court appearance in this, Utah’s final preseason game. Either way, it should be a fascinating meeting between a franchise with its whole future ahead of it and another desperate for anything worth believing in.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
