Grizzlies at Suns
The Phoenix Suns are hoping to avoid their longest losing streak in over eight years. With the Memphis Grizzlies coming to town on Wednesday, an eighth-straight setback is going to be tough to avoid. The Grizzlies lost for just the fourth time this season on Saturday but lead the NBA in scoring defense and beat the Suns in overtime last week. Phoenix has not lost eight in a row since February of 2004.
The Suns are enjoying a five-game homestand but could not snap their skid at home on Sunday, when they dropped a 98-90 decision to the Orlando Magic. Phoenix has not reached 100 points in any of its last seven losses and has allowed an average of 106.3 points in that span. Memphis has not allowed a team to reach the century mark since the season opener but struggled from the field and from the free-throw line in the lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Memphis), Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (14-4): Memphis has had three full days to work on the offensive problems that plagued them against the Hawks, most notably Rudy Gay’s 7-of-25 shooting performance. Gay took more shots than Zach Randolph (12) and Marc Gasol (11) combined in the 93-83 loss. The Grizzlies would be wise to go back to Randolph more often against the Suns. The burly forward carried Memphis to a 108-98 overtime victory over Phoenix last week with 38 points and 22 rebounds. Gasol added 14 and nine in that meeting as the Grizzlies dominated up front. Memphis has yet to lose back-to-back games and is opening up a three-game road trip on Wednesday that will take it through Denver and Utah over the weekend.
ABOUT THE SUNS (7-15): Phoenix was making the final stop on a six-game road trip when it hit Memphis last week and just ran out of gas down the stretch. The Suns led by as many as 16 points in the game but were worn down by Randolph and company on the interior. Coach Alvin Gentry called an extra practice after Sunday’s loss to the Magic and has been trying to get his team to cut down on turnovers. Phoenix, which ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring defense, cannot afford to give up extra possessions. Gentry moved Luis Scola and Michael Beasley to the second unit and got a strong response on Saturday in a loss at the Los Angeles Clippers, when the two combined for 39 points on 15-of-22 shooting. They stumbled to 14 on 5-of-11 on Sunday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Memphis has taken two straight in the series but has lost in its last two trips to Phoenix.
2. Suns PG Goran Dragic (illness) missed Sunday’s game and has skipped practice this week.
3. Randolph has averaged 18.6 points and 10.3 rebounds in 31 career games against Phoenix.