The Phoenix Suns enter Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the host Memphis Grizzlies hoping to reverse a latest droop and preserve their playoff hopes alive.
The Suns have misplaced eight of their final 10 video games, together with Sunday’s 127-109 setback to the Toronto Raptors.
“We have to search out methods to get wins,” Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer stated.
Budenholzer hopes Bradley Beal’s latest return to the beginning lineup shall be a catalyst. Beal was benched Jan. 6 in opposition to Philadelphia however was re-inserted into the beginning 5 Saturday at Chicago. Beal had 25 factors, together with a key 3-pointer late within the contest, to assist the Suns to a 121-117 victory.
Beal enjoying with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker seems to be the Suns’ strongest possibility, in line with Budenholzer.
“If we are able to get the fitting rhythm and discover the fitting alternatives offensively and have all three of these guys be aggressive and attacking, I feel that is probably after we could be at our greatest,” Budenholzer stated.
Beal returned to the beginning lineup in favor over Tyus Jones. In Sunday’s loss to Toronto, Beal scored 30 factors in a team-high 41 minutes.
Durant stated as a way to reverse the staff’s latest struggles, there should be some enhancements defensively. He stated the Suns have made issues tough as a result of they haven’t been profitable at stopping scoring runs.
“That is normally how the sport goes,” Durant stated. “(Opponents) go off and simply go on a flurry in opposition to us. Typically it is onerous to bounce again when groups rating quite a lot of factors in a row. I’ve received to deliver it if I need us to win.”
Durant managed solely 15 factors on 5-of-15 taking pictures from the sphere in opposition to Toronto. He missed every of his 5 3-point tries.
Memphis additionally has encountered a tough stretch. The Grizzlies have dropped three of their previous 4, together with Sunday’s 129-123 highway loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The one win through the previous 4 video games got here Friday at Orlando, however it required an 11-1 run to complete the sport.
Whereas Memphis by no means let Sunday’s recreation in opposition to one of many NBA’s high groups get out of hand, the Grizzlies have been undone by permitting 22 offensive rebounds. These offensive rebounds led to 31 factors by the Cavaliers.
“It doomed us,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated.
The tendency to permit an inordinate variety of offensive rebounds has been a difficulty this season, and Jenkins stated it have to be addressed earlier than it turns into an even bigger downside. Cleveland entered the sport ranked twenty second in offensive rebounds with 10.6 per recreation, but the Cavs grabbed 46.8 p.c of their missed pictures in opposition to Memphis. The Grizzlies after Sunday ranked twenty fifth in offense boards allowed (12.1 per recreation).
“We scored 123 in opposition to an elite protection,” Jenkins stated. “You simply cannot give a staff 31 freebies. You may’t have it. This needs to be one thing we handle and personal much more as a result of it may be an Achilles’ heel for us if we wish to get the place we are able to get to as a staff.”
The Grizzlies have been getting extra constant efforts from guard Ja Morant, who has endured an injury-plagued season.
He scored 21 factors in opposition to the Cavaliers and added 10 assists with just one turnover. Morant has scored 20 or extra factors in three of the staff’s previous 4 video games.
–Subject Stage Media
