Jazz Fall To Suns Despite Career Night From Cody Williams
Jan 11, 2025, 6:05 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the Phoenix Suns 114-106, dropping their third straight game and falling to 9-28 on the season.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points while Collin Sexton added 20.
Devin Booker had 34 points to lead the Suns.
Game Blog: Jazz Fall To Suns On The Road
Cody Williams Has Career Night Against Suns
Jazz lottery pick Cody Williams had by far the best game of his career recording 13 points, two rebounds, and two assists while shooting 5-10 from the floor and 2-4 from three.
He was also tasked with defending Kevin Durant for several extended stretches, and did an admirable job, despite a 25-point, seven-assist outing from the future Hall of Famer.
Unlike Williams’s previous higher-scoring games, he didn’t simply make shots to account for his impressive stat line.
The rookie read and reacted to the Suns’ defense, took appropriately timed threes, and used his length and athleticism to score inside the arc.
that’s tough rook 😮💨
make it a new career-high for Cody as well with 13 🤝 pic.twitter.com/0puWfRuBXN
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 12, 2025
“It’s about the decision-making,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “Are you shooting the right types of shots? Are you shooting when you’re supposed to shoot? Are you passing when we think you should pass? And I think Cody has done a good job of maintaining a good head space.”
Williams was given ample opportunity in the G League to create his own offense with the ball in his hands, and it’s beginning to pay off at the NBA level.
“It’s nice to see him have a little bit of success, because that’s going to only continue to drive home the message of like, no matter what happens, you’ve got to stay the course,” Hardy added.
The Arizona native still needs to add weight, and every minute he sees the floor will be critical for his growth, but compared to where he was to open the year, his trajectory is trending in the right direction.
“Getting many more reps and [I’m] just so much comfortable,” Williams said of his experience. “The G League definitely helped and it’s huge just for my confidence.”
Jazz Elijah Harkless Makes NBA Debut Against Suns
With Johnny Juzang sidelined with a fractured hand, two-way guard Elijah Harkless made his NBA debut in Phoenix recording four points in nine minutes on the floor.
The Jazz signed Harkless on January 1, and it didn’t take long for the rookie to get called up from the G League due to the team’s injury-depleted roster.
Harkless, 24, is a strong defender on the perimeter and showed his hustle on the glass, but his offensive game remains a work in progress.
Elijah Harkless making his NBA debut right now for the @utahjazz.
Always cool to see guys make their dreams come true.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 11, 2025
Related: Jazz Sign Elijah Harkless To Two-Way Contract
The guard shares similarities with former Jazzman and current Suns wing Royce O’Neale who earned a starting job in Utah as a reliable three-point shooter, a versatile defender, and someone who rebounds well for his position.
Harkless is smaller than O’Neale, but their strengths and weaknesses are similar.
The guard has been stellar in four appearances with the Salt Lake City Stars this season averaging 29.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 53 percent from three.
Jazz Face Quick Turnaround Against Kings Tomorrow
After facing the Suns, the Jazz will return home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday evening.
Brooklyn travels to Utah on the second night of a six-game Western Conference road swing.
The Nets opened the difficult stretch with a 124-105 loss in Denver on Friday night before making stops in Utah and Portland, facing both the Clippers and Lakers in Los Angeles, before closing the trip in Oklahoma City against the West-leading Thunder.
After a 9-10 start to the season, the Nets are just 4-15 in their last 19 games.
Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the Jazz are 3.5 games back of the Nets in the lottery standings.
Utah Jazz Next Broadcast
The Jazz will travel to face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at 6 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
