Atlanta @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 4, 2018 ) Phoenix 112, Atlanta 113

The Phoenix Suns will try to snap a nine-game losing streak when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday and could have Deandre Ayton back in the fold. The 7-1 rookie center, who averages 16.4 points and leads all rookies with 10.6 rebounds per game, has missed the last six contests because of an ankle injury but it sounds like he'll be good to go.

“I feel very light. My legs feel brand new like I just got to the league,” Ayton told reporters after practice Friday. “So yeah, it’s a good sign.” Phoenix, which owns the worst record in the Western Conference, is coming off a 126-124 loss at San Antonio on Rudy Gay's jumper at the buzzer. "Dropping nine straight and losing three or four to game-winners, you realize that you have to be locked in the whole game," Suns guard Devin Booker told reporters. "It's not just the final shot." Atlanta fell to 2-3 on its seven-game road trip with a 128-112 loss to Utah on Friday despite 28 points and nine assists from rookie point guard Trae Young.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (16-35): Young (16.7 points, 7.4 assists) has averaged 26.8 points in his last four games - the best such stretch in his young career - and is shooting 56.9 percent during that span, raising his season number to 41.1. John Collins scored 19 points on Friday and is shooting 58.4 percent from the floor as he tries to surpass Shaquille O'Neal (59.9 percent in 1993-94) for the highest rate by a second-year player in NBA history. Kent Bazemore scored eight points in 17 minutes Friday in his second game with a 20-minute restriction since missing 14 with an ankle injury.

ABOUT THE SUNS (11-42): Devin Booker (team-high 24.8 points per game) recorded his seven career game with at least 35 points, five rebounds and five assists, and is one shy of Gail Goodrich's club record. Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging 14.6 points in 22 games since being acquired from Washington and has reached double figures in 12 consecutive contests. Josh Jackson (10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds) is averaging 15.2 and 6.8 in his last six games while shooting 38.3 percent from the field, dropping his season number to 40.2.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Phoenix shot a season-high 60 percent from the floor Tuesday, losing for only the third time in franchise history (62-3) when reaching that number.

2. Young has 84 3-pointers this season, breaking the previous Atlanta rookie record of 82 set by Salim Stoudamire in 2005-06.

3. The clubs have split the last six meetings with five encounters decided by four or fewer points while the home team has won seven straight.

PREDICTION: Suns 119, Hawks 116