The shot clock was about to expire. Joe Johnson had no place to go. Closely guarded in the corner, the veteran guard jumped and buried a contested 3, the biggest shot in Utah’s 106-101 win over the Suns on Monday night.
The win in front of 16,767 at Talking Stick Resort Arena marked the Jazz’s seventh in a row over Phoenix, three coming this year. It also robbed the Suns – coming off Saturday’s win over San Antonio in Mexico – of a second consecutive win over a Western Conference division leader.
After Johnson’s shot, the Suns (13-28) had a chance to take the lead in the final minute, but Devin Booker had a soft jumper roll off the rim.