Memphis @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 11, 2019 ) Memphis 115, Phoenix 108

Red-hot Devin Booker attempts to make history and his Phoenix Suns go after a fourth win in five games when they continue their homestand Sunday night against the improving Memphis Grizzlies. Booker matched the franchise record set by Charlie Scott (twice) and Charles Barkley of five straight games with at least 30 points when he scored 38 as the Suns rallied for a 120-112 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.

“I’m just taking it a day at a time and just try to impose my will on this game and every night do whatever I have to do to get wins,” Booker, who is averaging 33.8 points during his surge, told reporters. “I feel like we’ve dropped a few games that we shouldn’t have, so we have to make those up. So this homestand is very important for us. It’s that time of year where we have to lock in for sure.” Phoenix has four games left on its homestand - all against teams with sub-.500 records - and the Suns are just 7-12 at Talking Stick Resort Arena as they sit just outside the top eight in the Western Conference with the Grizzlies. Memphis, which split the first two meetings this season with Phoenix, comes to town after one of its best performances of the season Saturday as the Grizzlies scored 40 points in the first quarter en route to a 140-114 romp at the Los Angeles Clippers. “We started off great, got stops when we needed them and nearly played a complete 48 minutes,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters after his team drained 18 shots from 3-point range. “We’re going to enjoy this one.”

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, FS Arizona

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (14-22): Defensive stopper Jae Crowder showed no effects of a sore ankle Saturday by scoring a season-high 27 points to lead the way and added eight rebounds along with seven assists, three steals and three blocks. Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in with 24 points and four blocks in the victory while rookie point guard Ja Morant, who is 15-for-23 from the field the last two games, continued his impressive play by scoring 22 and recording nine assists against the Clippers. Guard Dillon Brooks poured in 22 more points Saturday and drained 6-of-9 from beyond the arc after going just 6-of-20 the previous three games.

ABOUT THE SUNS (14-21): Deandre Ayton registered his fourth double-double in five games this season with 15 points and 13 boards while fellow center Aron Baynes notched his second double-double of the campaign with 20 and 12, respectively, against the Knicks. Booker, who is averaging a team-high 25.6 points overall, has gotten plenty of support from Kelly Oubre Jr. of late as the 6-7 small forward scored 26 per game in the past four. Point guard Ricky Rubio is running the show with aplomb during the team’s surge, averaging 10 assists in the last four contests to push his season mark to 9.3 - second in the league entering Sunday.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Memphis C Jonas Valanciunas leads the team in rebounding (9.8) and hauled in 12 in each of the last two games.

2. Phoenix announced Saturday that F Frank Kaminsky III (knee soreness), who is averaging 11 points, will be sidelined indefinitely with a right patella stress fracture.

3. The Suns lead the league in assists per game and the Grizzlies are second after registering 36 on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Suns 116, Grizzlies 108