The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz made it fly from 3 so many times that the two teams tied the NBA record on Friday night.
The two teams combined for 44 three-pointers, making 22 each in the Suns’ 134-126 win over the Jazz. Phoenix shot 22-for-45 (49%) from beyond the arc, while Utah shot 22-of-39 (56%).
The 44 3s tied the record originally set in the Sacramento Kings’ 176-175 double overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 23, 2023. The Clippers made 26 3s (26:45 shooting), while the Kings hit 18 from long range (18- for-41).
However, neither the Suns nor the Jazz set the league record for most 3-pointers made by one team in one game. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks share the mark with 29.
Devin Booker shot 6-13 from long range to go with 34 points with eight assists. Tyus Jones and Royce O’Neale each hit five 3s. Kevin Durant hit just two 3s, but scored 30 points on 12-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. Jones also had 11 assists.
Jusuf Nurkić, Monté Morris and Josh Okogie missed their lone 3-point attempts.
Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Jordan Clarkson each hit four three-pointers for Utah. Clarkson led the Jazz with 23 points, followed by Collins’ 22 with six rebounds and six assists. Collins tied the game by hitting a 3 with 5.2 seconds left in the game.
Collin Sexton shot 0-3 on his 3-point attempts.
In the 2023 Clippers-Kings shootout, Kawhi Leonard hit six 3-pointers for Los Angeles, followed by Paul George, Nicolas Batum and Norman Powell with five each. Malik Monk matched Leonard with six 3s for Sacramento.
Utah’s Walker Kessler hinted at what a night it could be, making his first two 3-pointers of the season to start the game.
“If nothing else, tonight will highlight the skill level these days in the NBA,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “It was quite a shooting performance by both teams. … Really a lot of high-level shooting from both groups tonight.”