SALT LAKE CITY -- The Phoenix Suns never led when they played the Jazz in Utah earlier this month, but if they can carry over some of the energy from the final minutes of that game, they could be in for a better result when the teams meet again on Saturday.
The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona and FOX Sports GO, starting at 5:30 p.m.
The Jazz hosted the Suns on Dec. 6 and never trailed in a 112-105 victory. But Utah had to hold on tight to withstand a furious Phoenix rally that nearly wiped out a 23-point deficit.
The Suns come to Utah on a high note after holding Toronto to a season-low in points in a 99-91 win over the Raptors on Thursday. Phoenix held Toronto to just 40 percent shooting from the field. It was just the fourth time that the Suns held an opponent under 100 points this season.
Suns coach Earl Watson praised his defense's aggressiveness in snapping a two-game losing streak. It's something he wants to turn into a team trademark.
"Our thing is, let's be the first one to hit," Watson said. "Let's come out, be the aggressors, and let them try to counteract us. It was a great lesson to impose our will defensively."
Better defense will serve to make Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker even more dangerous on offense.
Booker has averaged 20.4 points over his last seven games and is scoring 18.8 points per game for the season. It is the most by a second-year Phoenix player since Amar'e Stoudemire averaged 20.6 points per game in the 2003-04 season.
Bledsoe is averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 33 games -- one of five NBA players averaging at least 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. The last Suns player to average 19/5/5 in a season was Charles Barkley in 1992-93.
He'll be matched up against Jazz point guard George Hill, who is recovering from a sprained toe that caused him to miss nearly a month.
When Hill returned to the starting lineup against Philadelphia on Thursday, he could feel the effects of being out of action. Hill admitted to feeling a little rusty and lacking some of his usual stamina while running the offense.
Still, he convinced Jazz coach Quin Snyder to let him play through any limitations caused by his still-healing toe.
"I told him when that game's on the line, I want to be in there," Hill said. "Just the competitive side kicks in and you worry about the rest later."
Hill's presence made a big difference in the fourth quarter of Utah's 100-83 victory. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists.
"He played well in his first game back, especially there down towards the end of the game," forward Gordon Hayward said. "(Hill) kind of controlled it there on the offensive end for us. Can't say enough about his defensive play, too. His length and activity on the ball against other point guards is really helpful for us. It was great to have him back."
