Phoenix @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2019 ) Memphis 120, Phoenix 115

The Phoenix Suns are one of the surprises of the early going in the NBA and look to make it four wins in six games when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. The Suns earned their first road win with a 121-110 victory at Golden State on Wednesday and are not having any trouble staying with the top teams in the West.

Phoenix's two losses were one-point setbacks at Denver and at home against Utah and the team is focused on doing the little things right that will lead to victories down the road. "I think it comes back to the message coach gave us last week is the next right thing," Suns center Aron Baynes told reporters. "It's not so much you're trying to go out there and win the game straight away. You're trying to go out there and do the next right thing for the team. Whatever that is. ... If we can get to the mentality as a group where that's what we're all focused on every single possession, then we're going to be looking pretty good." The Grizzlies are trying to build a winning culture as well but followed their first win with a 120-91 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. "It was obviously a tough one for us," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters. "...We just couldn't make enough shots, couldn't get the stops and they just out-competed us in the third quarter and really set the tone for the second half."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE SUNS (3-2): Phoenix made a pair of key additions to its young team by bringing in Baynes and forward Dario Saric to solidify the frontcourt, and star guard Devin Booker is the early beneficiary of the moves. "Those guys are unbelievable," Booker told reporters of Baynes and Saric. "They've helped my game out a lot with the screens that they're doing. They're a lot bigger than their position. So, sealing their guy inside, getting those second chance points. I can't stress the screens enough, getting me open. Stretching the floor at the same time. Usually you don't see bruisers shooting threes and Aron Baynes is for sure doing that." Booker is averaging 24.4 points and six assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (1-3): Memphis gets three full days off after the loss to the Lakers to figure out how to coax more offense out of a club that shot 32.6 percent from the floor and 20.6 percent from beyond the arc in the latest setback. Rookie point guard Ja Morant led the team with 16 points against the Lakers and is averaging 17.5 while power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. is trying to find some consistency after totaling 40 points in the first two games and 19 points in the next two. Veteran center Jonas Valanciunas is averaging only 19.3 minutes but recorded a double-double in each of the last three games to provide some stability on the inside.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns rookie SF Cameron Johnson scored a season-high 12 points in Wednesday's win.

2. Grizzlies F Jae Crowder is shooting 34.2 percent from the field, including 26.7 percent from beyond the arc.

3. The Grizzlies took two of the three meetings last season, including the lone game in Memphis.

PREDICTION: Suns 115, Grizzlies 106