Phoenix Suns: 3 questions going into Friday game vs. Utah Jazz

Can the Suns continue to get to the line more?

SALT LAKE CITY – Here are three questions entering Friday’s Suns-Jazz matchup at Vivint Arena that can be seen at 7 p.m. on Bally Sports Arizona.

They went 21-of-25 in Wednesday’s victory over defending NBA champion Golden State after going a combined 10-of-13 from the line in the two previous games at Orlando and Miami that both ended in losses.

The Suns (9-5) were 2-of-4 against the Heat to match the second-lowest number of free throw attempts in game in franchise history.

Suns coach Monty Williams not only voiced his displeasure of the disparity as Miami finished 22-of-25, but said Suns General Manager James Jones planned to contact the NBA about it.

Two nights later, Phoenix had more FTAs against Golden State, but the Suns shot a season-high 34 free throws (made 28) against the Warriors in their Oct. 25 win, 134-105, in Phoenix.

So maybe Jones’ talk helped. Maybe the Warriors just can’t guard the Suns.

Whatever it was, Phoenix made its way to the line more, but the team still is 27th in the NBA in free throw attempts per game at 20.7.

The Suns are for the most part a jump shooting team and hardly generate fouls out of the post.

So, the bigger question is can they exceed that 20.7 average Friday night?

This all starts with Devin Booker, but the Suns need two more players to get to the line more.

Booker admitted he started Wednesday’s game with intentions to draw contact. He attacked Andrew Wiggins off the bounce and posted up Stephen Curry in the first quarter, drew fouls on both and made all four free throws.

The Suns All-Star shooting guard finished 9-of-9 from the line, but Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne each went to the line six times. Bridges was perfect while Payne only misfired once.

Booker is always aggressive and looking to get to the rim as he can score on all three levels. He leads the team in free-throw attempts per game at 6.2.

Chris Paul and Bridges, second and third respectively at 3.4 and 2.9, but everyone else is averaging less than two FTAs per game and that includes starting big Deandre Ayton, who is at a career-low 1.6.

If Paul doesn’t play Friday, as he’s missed four straight games with the sore right heel, who can make their way to the line? Playing fast can lead to having mismatches in transition, but teams are avoiding the transition take fouls.

So Phoenix has to be intentional in getting to the basket off the basket and out of the post.

Will Chris Paul and Josh Okogie play tonight?

Paul is getting closer to returning from the sore right heel, but Williams said before Wednesday’s game his improvement is coming in small increments.

So it’s hard to say, but the play of Payne gives Williams another reason to rest Paul.

Payne scored a career-high 29 points Wednesday night. He’s averaging 20.8 points, six assists to just 1.8 turnovers and shooting 45.7% from 3 in his four starts for Paul.

Add two-way player Duane Washington Jr.’s recent contributions, Phoenix is good at the one right now. Washington Jr. scored a season-high 21 points, going 5-of-8 from 3, in the loss to Miami.

Josh Okogie is also listed as questionable with a sore right hamstring after playing Wednesday night, but said after Friday's optional shooting it felt OK. He plans to test it out in pregame.

Will Phoenix beat Utah?

The Jazz are one of the NBA’s surprise teams, but have cooled a bit after a fast start.

Utah (10-6) have lost its last three games to Washington, Philadelphia and New York.

Joel Embiid went bonkers on the Jazz with a career-high 59 points.

The Jazz drew the rebuild label after trading away All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but have been more than solid under first-year coach Will Hardy.

So Phoenix won’t be able to have its way with the Jazz, but this is one the Suns should get.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns sider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns: 3 questions going into Friday game vs. Utah Jazz