Jazz and Suns Both Had 18 Turnovers, But Only One Team Made Them Hurt

The Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns each committed 18 turnovers Friday night ...

Phoenix actually finished with more steals, too.

Somehow, Utah turned those identical turnover totals into a 16-point advantage — and a 119–116 win to close out its preseason.

The Jazz scored 24 points off Phoenix's mistakes. The Suns managed just eight off Utah's, despite recording 12 steals to the Jazz's nine.

For a team that spent much of the offseason trying to build a more disruptive defense, those numbers deserve a closer look.

The difference started showing up in the first quarter.

With 7:17 remaining, Lauri Markkanen intercepted a pass from Jalen Green. Four seconds later, Darryn Peterson found Ace Bailey for an alley-oop.

Seven minutes into the game, Utah had already demonstrated how quickly one defensive possession could become two points.

Keyonte George provided another example midway through the second quarter.

Green tried another pass. George took it away and converted a driving layup two seconds later, cutting Phoenix's lead to six.

Then came Bailey's contribution in the third.

Miles Bridges lost possession with 8:28 remaining. Bailey grabbed the steal and buried a 3-pointer five seconds later.

Three different Jazz players. Three turnovers forced. Seven points generated before Phoenix could organize its defense.

Those possessions helped Utah keep pace with a Suns team that had Devin Booker, Green and Dillon Brooks on the floor for much of the opening three quarters.

Of course, the Jazz had their own problems protecting the basketball.

George committed four turnovers. Jaxson Hayes added three. Utah finished with 18 as a team, a fairly uncomfortable number for an offense featuring as many ballhandlers as this one.

And Phoenix actually held a 16–14 advantage in fast-break points.

That makes the turnover discrepancy even more interesting.

Utah wasn't simply outrunning the Suns. It was doing more damage with the opportunities Phoenix handed over, whether those mistakes created transition chances or possessions that required the offense to reset.

There are limits to what Friday's result tells us.

Phoenix carried a 95–90 lead into the fourth quarter before largely turning things over to its reserves. Utah won that final period 29–21, meaning the comeback itself shouldn't be confused with proof that the Jazz have solved anything against established competition.

But those first three quarters offered something worth carrying into Wednesday's regular-season opener against Memphis.

Utah has players capable of turning defense into offense without needing an elaborate half-court possession. Markkanen can jump a passing lane. George can pressure the ball. Bailey can finish the play himself.

Jaren Jackson Jr., meanwhile, added two steals and two blocks against Phoenix, another reminder of the defensive activity Utah hopes to get from its revamped frontcourt.

Eighteen turnovers remain too many to give away.

Hardy should be pleased with the 24 points his team collected from Phoenix's mistakes. He should be considerably less pleased that the Jazz handed the Suns just as many chances to do the same.

Friday showed how much Utah can gain by punishing an opponent's carelessness.

The next challenge is making sure the Jazz aren't just as careless themselves.