This wasn’t just another game.

Phoenix and Utah laid it on the line like the top two teams in the NBA should when facing each other.

The fans were more than into it and left Phoenix Suns Arena having seen their home team show why they are for real.

Taking every Utah surge, Phoenix pulled out another close one, 117-113, Wednesday night before 5,110 fans to take the season series and own the tiebreaker over the Jazz.

BOX SCORE: Suns 117, Jazz 113

Winners of seven straight, Phoenix (36-14) is now just 1-1/2 games behind the NBA-leading Jazz in the Western Conference. Chris Paul hit two free throws with 7.8 seconds left to finally put away the Jazz (38-13), losers of two straight. 

Devin Booker finished with a team-high 35 while Paul posted 29 points and nine assists.

Fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 41. 

Utah forced overtime on Mitchell’s transition 3 with 10.8 seconds left. This was after Phoenix went up four on Jae Crowder 3 with 2:05 left in regulation.

Booker missed a 3 contested by Mitchell at the buzzer in the fourth.

The Suns will complete the second half of a pivotal back-to-back Thursday night at the Los Angeles Clippers (34-18), who can win the season series and own the tiebreaker over Phoenix with a win at STAPLES Center.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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