October 17, 2026 at 3:54 PM UTC

Postgame Report

Jazz hold off Suns 119-116 in preseason finale

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Utah beat Phoenix by three in the last tune-up before games count, with center spots on both sides still unsettled.

The Jazz beat the Suns 119-116 at Footprint Center on Friday night in the preseason finale for both teams. It was the last chance either side had to try combinations in a real game setting before the games count. Phoenix, for its part, brought back its main starters for the occasion. A three-point margin is about what you want from a dress rehearsal: enough tension to make the rotations mean something, not enough to settle any arguments.

The larger question in the Utah locker room is who starts at center. Nurkic is expected to miss multiple weeks, which leaves the job open. Jaxson Hayes had started the past two games and was averaging 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in that role. This was billed as his last audition for the fifth spot in the opening lineup, and a team that wins on the road in October rarely feels pressed to complicate things.

Phoenix had its own questions up front. Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Collin Gillespie all returned after resting. Khaman Maluach was in the mix at center against Ighodaro for the starting job, but Ighodaro was out with hip soreness. So was Kennard, who has a knee tendon strain, and Williams, who is still out with a torn labrum. Coach Ott said he believes Kennard and Ighodaro will be ready for Wednesday's opener against Portland, though he stopped short of promising it.

Utah's depth behind its center is thin, with Nurkic and Kyle Filipowski both missing time. That makes Mo Bamba a likely source of early-season bench minutes. Teams usually try to leave the preseason with fewer open questions than they brought in. The Jazz leave with a win and a short list of big men.

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