Devin Booker and Kevin Durant lead the Suns past the Jazz, 134-126

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Devin Booker scored 34 points and Kevin Durant added 30 in his return to Phoenix's lineup, leading the Suns to a 134-126 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

Durant and Booker also each had eight assists to help the Suns snap a three-game losing streak. Tyus Jones had 19 points and 11 assists.

Durant missed three games because of a left ankle sprain. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic also was back after sitting out five games with a left ankle sprain and right thigh contusion.

Jordan Clarkson also returned for Utah following a seven-game absence because of plantar fasciitis. Clarkson led the Jazz with 23 points. John Collins added 22 points, and Lauri Markkanen had 19.

Phoenix opened the second half with six straight baskets – three coming from Booker – for a 92-80 lead. The Jazz countered with a 15-4 run and pulled to 99-97 on a running alley-oop layup from Walker Kessler.

Ryan Dunn capped a 9-2 run with a finger roll layup to extend the Suns' lead to 108-99. Utah did not draw closer than four points in the fourth quarter.

Suns: Durant and Booker combined for 21 baskets and 16 assists.

Jazz: Sizzling outside shooting helped Utah keep pace with Phoenix. The Jazz made 22 3-pointers and shot 56% beyond the arc.

Clarkson made three straight baskets to help Utah score on its first six second quarter possessions and take a 53-44 lead. Phoenix erased the deficit behind a 12-0 run, fueled by Booker’s back-to-back threes, and went ahead 63-58. The Suns never trailed after that point.

The Jazz and the Suns combined to make 44 3-pointers.

The Suns host the Portland on Sunday, while the Jazz are at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (20) dunks against Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) goes to the basket as Phoenix Suns' Jusuf Nurkic (20) and Royce O'Neale (00) defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang, right, defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) as he pulls down a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang, right, defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) as he pulls down a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) looks at the scoreboard during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) fouls Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, left, who drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) fouls Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, left, who drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) battle for position under the boards during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) defends against Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, left, shoots as Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) followings through after scoring a 3-pointer against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A group of young people in Florida say they believe the state’s continued reliance on fossil fuels is a violation of their constitutional rights and are suing the state agency that regulates public utilities in the hopes of forcing the energy companies to transition toward renewable energy sources.

The case is one in a string of lawsuits filed by kids and teenagers across the U.S. in recent years as climate activists turn to the courts for action.

Additional plaintiffs joined the lawsuit against the Florida Public Service Commission this week after it was initially filed in October.

The activists, ages 18 to 25, are taking aim at the agency's practice of routinely approving the long-range plans of public utility companies to continue their reliance on fossil fuels, despite provisions in Florida law outlining the state's intention to “reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by promoting an increased use of renewable energy resources and low-carbon-emitting electric power plants.”

The plaintiffs say Florida’s continued use of greenhouse gas-emitting energy sources is fueling deadly heat, flooding rains and rising seas. The lawsuit claims that by furthering the state's dependence on fossil fuels, the commission is violating young people's “fundamental and inalienable right to enjoy and defend life," as guaranteed by the Florida Constitution, by threatening their ability to live in the state in the future.

“Why can’t future generations also enjoy the beauty and unique environment that we have here, just because of what our legislators and our governor and our state agencies are doing?” lead plaintiff Delaney Reynolds said.

A representative for the Public Service Commission said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

The plaintiffs, all Miami-Dade County residents, are represented by the public interest law firm Our Children's Trust, which has filed cases in all 50 states advocating for climate action on behalf of young people.

Reynolds and Our Children's Trust teamed up in a previous lawsuit against Florida in 2018, arguing that the state's leaders were failing to act on climate and violating young people's constitutional rights. A judge dismissed that case, saying the issue is a matter for state lawmakers to address, not the courts.

Andrea Rodgers, the lead attorney on the Public Service Commission lawsuit, said the new case will be different because it's much more narrow, asking the court to review specific actions the agency is taking that she said run contrary to renewable energy policies approved by state lawmakers.

"We’re not asking them to recognize any new constitutional rights. This is clearly established Florida law," Rodgers said. “We simply want to ask them to review the commission’s conduct and tell us whether or not it’s constitutional.”

The law firm has had success in other states.

Earlier this year in a case brought by Our Children’s Trust, the Montana Supreme Court upheld a landmark decision requiring regulators to consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions before issuing permits for fossil fuel development.

The firm also reached a settlement with Hawaii that includes an ambitious requirement to decarbonize the state’s transportation system over the next 21 years.

Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

FILE - Climate activist Delaney Reynolds, 22, speaks at a news conference where U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla, was announcing a solar power initiative for the state, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in South Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

FILE - Visitors look at manatees at the Tampa Electric Company Manatee Viewing Center near the coal-fired Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. Center volunteers estimate that over 1,000 of the gentle creatures are enjoying the warm water that gets discharged from the power plant. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)