The Phoenix Suns continue to find new ways to lose games in the same way, falling to the Memphis Grizzlies 120-118.
While Phoenix (30-35) faces a gauntlet the rest of the way to conclude the regular season, it will be afforded multiple breaks in terms of when it is facing a quality opponent.
Enter Monday’s matchup against Memphis (41-24), who came in 5-8 across its last 13 contests and was significantly shorthanded.
All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. (left ankle sprain) was out after having his way with the Suns all year. Beyond him, rotation players Santi Aldama (right calf strain), Brandon Clarke (right knee soreness), Zach Edey (right knee soreness), Luke Kennard (low back soreness) and Vince Williams Jr. (right foot soreness) were also out.
Phoenix played a fairly crisp first quarter, jumping out an immediate lead that grew quickly to 16 less than eight minutes in. But turnovers and an endless lack of force defensively allowed the Grizzlies to get back in the game before even halftime. Memphis’ second unit sparked things, led by late second-round pick Cam Spencer (who had 127 career minutes coming into the night) and trade deadline salary filler Marvin Bagley III (who you probably just learned was on Memphis). The Grizzlies tied it and the score remained fairly square the rest of the way.
The Suns had no ability to recapture their form from the beginning of the game or at least channel a shooting barrage to take back control. Memphis found rhythm and confidence from behind the line early despite adequate at best shooters taking the shots thanks to plenty of room to get ’em off, a testament to how bad the Suns defense is. There were handfuls of horrendous possessions defending in transition, a large part of Phoenix’s issues that borders on embarrassing at this point.
To wit!
Off another instance of awful matching up on shooters via poor transition defense late in the third quarter, Spencer found himself open for a corner 3 he drained (that came off a Suns turnover).
Spencer, a braggadocios player at UConn that built up a certain type of reputation, immediately started talking trash to Durant. A few seconds later into the exchange as Spencer was walking away, Durant lightly flicked his leg out at Spencer between his legs, a move that could have tripped the rookie but did not prove effective. Durant then had words for Spencer, which Spencer’s teammate Desmond Bane took exception to immediately and got in Durant’s face. It was Durant’s turnover and Durant’s late rotation to his man in the corner that led to the whole sequence of events.
Spencer and Durant got offsetting technical fouls, and after a 6-0 Suns run to open the final period, Devin Booker jawed at Spencer and Bane going into a timeout. That earned him a T of his own.
In most situations across sports, we are used to seeing this poking of the bear proving unfruitful. But the Suns let the Grizzlies get away with it.
It was a back-and-forth game from there, with Memphis the team holding a sight grasp on things by a few buckets to keep Phoenix chasing.
With the Suns down three and under two minutes left, Durant was bizarrely bringing the ball up, something the Suns mostly avoid because of how defenders can get up into him to force turnovers. Mason Plumlee stepped up into the backcourt to set a screen, only for it to trip the Memphis defender for a turnover.
The Grizzlies then scored on a slash to the basket off a closeout by Scottie Pippen Jr. via a floater. Durant answered after a missed Booker 3 was tipped out for a second chance, and then it was once again a 1-on-1 bucket off the bounce for the Grizzlies, this time from Ja Morant to make it 118-113 Grizzlies with 35 seconds remaining.
Phoenix got another basket via an offensive rebound to trigger free-throw shenanigans at 15 ticks to go, gaining a point there after two Spencer free throws were matched by a Durant 3 with five seconds burned off the clock.
After Memphis couldn’t get an inbounds pass off and had to take a timeout, the Suns locked up the next attempt as well, managing to force a turnover and get the ball back at 8.9 seconds remaining down two. Durant was given the ball near half-court and worked his way into a pull-up 3, missing the potential game-winner at the buzzer.
The Suns managed just 118 points and lost despite shooting 20-for-38 (52.6%) from 3-point range compared to Memphis’ 17-of-46 (37%).
Durant finished with 35 points (11-for-24), five rebounds, five assists and three turnovers. Booker added 26 points (9-for-21), nine rebounds, six assists and five turnovers.
Morant’s 29 points led the way for Memphis, who had seven players in double figures, including Spencer’s 16 off the bench.
Phoenix was without Bradley Beal (left calf injury management).