The rhythm of the Phoenix Suns skipped a beat in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, ultimately resulting in a tough loss, 114-113.
Devin Booker struggled early,
starting just 1-for-9 from the field and unable to find his rhythm until the final minutes of the third quarter. Fortunately for Phoenix, Booker had help from teammates Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie, who combined for 23 points in the first half to keep the Suns within reach.
Once Booker rediscovered his touch, the Suns made a push, but by then, the Grizzlies had taken control, building a double-digit lead and stealing the show in downtown Phoenix.
And that they did. The Grizzlies caught fire from deep, hitting four contested threes with hands in their faces, refusing to stay silent as the nets kept swaying.
Booker did his best with 29 points in the second half but was unable to hit the game-winner.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns came out playing big, scoring 10 of their first 13 points in the paint. Starting center Mark Williams made his first start of the season, taking control during the opening six minutes.
In that stretch, Williams recorded six points and a blocked shot on Jaren Jackson Jr., setting the tone for the Suns’ defense.
Taking a 21–15 lead into a Grizzlies timeout at the 4:21 mark of the first quarter, the Suns had already tallied seven assists, two blocked shots, and forced four turnovers. Their defense fueled the offense, leading to five fast-break points.
The Suns went small to end the first quarter, with Oso Ighodaro at center and Nigel Hayes-Davis at power forward. The Grizzlies took advantage of the smaller lineup, as Ja Morant repeatedly attacked the paint and helped Memphis take a 27–26 lead to close the quarter.
Collin Gillespie brought a spark off the bench, running the Suns’ offense with confidence. By picking his spots and staying aggressive, he added four quick points to put Phoenix back on top 33–31, keeping the game close during valuable bench minutes.
Devin Booker checked back in with five minutes left in the second quarter and the Suns holding a 43–41 lead. With Mark Williams commanding attention inside, the floor opened up on the perimeter. The Suns became lethal from outside, forcing the Grizzlies to scramble on defense.
The consistent effort from Ryan Dunn, along with his knockdown shooting from three, gave the Suns exactly what they needed — paint protection and strong team rebounding. Dunn contributed seven points and five rebounds, helping the Suns keep their lead heading into halftime.
Suns, 53. Grizzlies, 49.
Second Half
After finally playing a first half without trailing by 20 points — their most complete opening half of the season — the Suns carried that momentum into a physical start to the third quarter. Review after review piled up as the game turned into a whistle-filled grind on both ends.
Ryan Dunn and Mark Williams found themselves in the middle of nearly every play, their energy paying off as they began connecting on passes to each other at the rim.
Halfway through the third quarter, Oso came back into the game for Williams, but was unable to capture the moment and execute when it came to the mismatches. Booker was on the same page as Oso, not living up to the moment and coming through when the Suns went small.
With the Suns down 68-67, Booker was 3-13 from the field. It really looked like he lost a step.
With Booker hitting a few shots after I doubted him, the Suns still could not pull away from the Grizzlies, trailing 81-78 entering the fourth quarter.
The smooth touch of Ja returned in the fourth quarter, swirving through the defense and finding the ball at the bottom of the net. The Grizzlies kept grabbing the loose balls and running the fast break to break away from the Suns, but whistles and fouls held the game to a slow pace.
Going up by five with around eight minutes left in the game, the Ja outmatched the Suns, who had to spend a timeout and try to regroup.
Down by as many as 10 points, the Suns had their hands full as the Grizzlies tried to pull away. Booker continued to fight to keep Phoenix in it, but the rest of the roster — led by Mark Williams — struggled to maintain offensive efficiency down the stretch.
With three minutes left in the game and the Suns trailing by just four, their scrappiness carried them through the final stretch. Phoenix tightened up defensively, getting their hands in passing lanes and forcing the Grizzlies out of rhythm. Memphis went cold from three, while Booker continued to heat up, eventually tying the game at 108 apiece.
With seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, Booker made up for it with 16 points in the quarter but came up short after missing the game-winning shot.
Grizzlies 114, Suns 113.
Up Next
The Phoenix Suns remain home, taking on the Utah Jazz in the first In-season Tournament game, Halloween night at 7:00.
