Suns at Wizards
The Phoenix Suns no longer own the worst record in the NBA and are streaking up the standings with wins in four straight. The Suns will try to make it five in a row and draw one win closer to double figures in the category when they visit the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
Phoenix (8-24) snapped a 10-game slide with a win at home over the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 13 and swept the two-game homestand before hitting the road and taking the first two of a five-game trip, including a 111-103 triumph at East-power Boston on Wednesday. "We had a big lead going into crunch time and couldn't land the plane," Suns coach Igor Kokoskov told reporters. "Couldn't really close the game, but we had more discipline, we played unselfishly, we found open people and some guys made big plays in crunch time. That's something that makes me happy." Swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 13 points off the bench in that win over the Celtics while making his Phoenix debut after being acquired in a trade from the Wizards - a deal that sent veteran swingman Trevor Ariza to Washington. The Wizards brought in Ariza to improve the defense, but he couldn't do much as Washington surrendered an NBA-record 26 3-pointers in a 136-118 loss at Houston on Wednesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE SUNS (8-24): Rookie center Deandre Ayton recorded 23 points and 18 rebounds in his third straight double-double on Wednesday and feels that Phoenix has turned a corner. "Just being more mature and closing out games," Ayton told reporters. "Being more confident in our game. Knowing each other on a more personal level. Being harder on each other. Knowing who you can curse at and just playing for each other." The Suns are also getting a boost from the return of guard Devin Booker, who is averaging 30.3 points in three games since returning from a hamstring injury.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (12-20): Ariza is averaging 17 points in two games since joining the team while looking to add a consistent effort to the underachieving bunch. "Aw, man, personally I just feel like we have to do a better job of giving multiple effort," Ariza told reporters after Wednesday's setback. "Basketball is a game of mistakes, and we know that we can make mistakes, but things that you can't do is lack effort. We lack effort. A lot." Shooting guard Bradley Beal is averaging 27.7 points on 50 percent shooting in December but the team is 4-6 in 10 games this month.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SF Sam Dekker is 19-of-27 from the floor over the last three games.
2. Suns SF T.J. Warren scored 20 or more points in each of the last five games.
3. The road team took each of the last three in the series, with Phoenix earning a 122-116 win in its trip to Washington last season.