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 to search out methods to get wins,” Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned.
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 possibility, based on Budenholzer.
“If we will get the appropriate rhythm and discover the appropriate alternatives offensively and have all three of these guys be aggressive and attacking, I believe that is probably once we might be at our greatest,” Budenholzer mentioned.
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 mentioned as a way to reverse the crew’s current struggles, there should be some enhancements defensively. He mentioned the Suns have made issues tough as a result of they haven’t been profitable at stopping scoring runs.
“That is often how the sport goes,” Durant mentioned. “(Opponents) go off and simply go on a flurry in opposition to us. Generally it is arduous to bounce again when groups rating lots of factors in a row. I’ve received to deliver it if I would like us to win.”
Durant managed solely 15 factors on 5-of-15 taking pictures from the sector 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 street loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The one win in the course of 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 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 mentioned.
The tendency to permit an inordinate variety of offensive rebounds has been a problem this season, and Jenkins mentioned 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 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 mentioned. “You simply cannot give a crew 31 freebies. You possibly can’t have it. This must 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 will get to as a crew.”
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 crew’s previous 4 video games.
–Discipline Degree Media
