The end of Sunday night’s game between the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns was mired in controversy.
The game was already wild and exciting and featured two rounds of overtime.
In the closing seconds of that second overtime, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz attempted a three-point shot that would have tied things up.
Kevin Durant was initially called for a foul on Markkanen’s shot, but that was then overturned after a coach’s challenge from Frank Vogel.
Following Phoenix’s close win, reporter Andy Larsen said: “No chance that Markkanen call on Durant goes against him if the names on the back of the jerseys are reversed.”
Durant chimed in with his own reaction: “I guess we’ll never know.”
I guess we’ll never know. https://t.co/M7qNbGysKO
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) November 20, 2023
While the refs originally said that Durant had fouled Markkanen, their review found that “there was clear and conclusive evidence that Durant made legal contact to the basketball blocking the shot first. That’s why the challenge was ruled successful.”
Durant was adamant that he didn’t foul the Jazz star and was very happy when Vogel challenged the call.
The Suns had every reason to play hard against Markkanen because he was a man on a mission Sunday night.
He scored 38 points and 17 rebounds during his exhausting 49 minutes on the floor.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton were also playing very well, scoring 25, 22, and 18 points respectively.
Durant saw Markkanen’s 38 points and did him one better with 39 points and 10 assists.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker was looking terrific again with his 26 points.
Some people thought that the Suns were going to easily push past the Jazz, as they are the eighth team in the West and the Jazz are the 12th.
But Utah showed, once again, that they have more skills than people give them credit for.
Because of that, they came very close to forcing a third overtime.
NEXT:
Kevin Durant Praises Suns Teammate’s Impact Off The Bench
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