The Phoenix Suns enter Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the host Memphis Grizzlies hoping to reverse a current droop and maintain 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 got to search out methods to get wins,” Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer stated.
Budenholzer hopes Bradley Beal’s current 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 taking part in with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker seems to be the Suns’ strongest choice, in line with Budenholzer.
“If we are able to get the suitable rhythm and discover the suitable alternatives offensively and have all three of these guys be aggressive and attacking, I feel that is doubtlessly once we will 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 with the intention to reverse the group’s current struggles, there should be some enhancements defensively. He stated the Suns have made issues troublesome 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 numerous factors in a row. I’ve acquired to deliver it if I need us to win.”
Durant managed solely 15 factors on 5-of-15 capturing 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, but it surely 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 prime groups get out of hand, the Grizzlies had 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 drawback. 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 photographs 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 group 31 freebies. You’ll be able to’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 need to get the place we are able to get to as a group.”
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 group’s previous 4 video games.
–Area Degree Media