Grizzlies at Suns
Phoenix guard Devin Booker takes a shot at reaching the 50-point mark for the third consecutive game when the Suns host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Booker posted efforts of 59 and 50 points in Phoenix's last two games to join Tom Chambers (twice in 1990) as the only Suns to post multiple 50-point performances.
The 22-year-old Booker is just one of 10 players in NBA history to record consecutive 50-point performances and he has reached the mark three times overall, including his career-best 70-point output against the Boston Celtics on March 24, 2017. "It's a blessing," Booker told reporters after Wednesday's 124-121 loss to the Washington Wizards. "It's an honor, I say it every day, to lace it up and play a sport that I love. I think right now it's time for me to be more aggressive, (the Suns) being down a couple of men." The rampage isn't leading to victories as Phoenix has lost five straight games as it enters the contest against a Memphis squad that has dropped five of seven as it begins a four-game road trip. Point guard Mike Conley scored 22 points in Wednesday's 118-103 home loss to the Golden State Warriors to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 11,700 career points, passing former teammate Marc Gasol (11,685).
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), FS Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (30-45): Center Jonas Valanciunas, who came over from Toronto in the Gasol trade, is showing signs he will be able to play a bigger role for Memphis next season. The 7-foot Lithuanian posted 27 points and 13 rebounds against the Warriors for his fifth straight double-double, and is averaging 24.2 points and 16 rebounds during the stretch. "He's got to go to work," Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. "Having him around, we feel like there's more there that we can dig out of him and he's open to it. He wants to carry a load. He wants to carry a burden."
ABOUT THE SUNS (17-59): While Booker was on another scoring surge, rookie center Deandre Ayton was producing 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 38th double-double, breaking the franchise rookie record set by Alvan Adams (1975-76). "I think he's having the most underrated rookie season in a very long time," Booker said. "The most important part for me is he gets better every day on both ends of the ball. We're going to be together for a very long time so I'm excited to have him as my teammate." Ayton is averaging 16.3 points and 10.2 rebounds but is considered to finish no better than third in Rookie of the Year balloting behind probable winner Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and likely runner-up Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix won four of the past six meetings, including a split of this season's first two matchups.
2. Suns SF Josh Jackson (ankle) will likely miss his fourth straight game.
3. Memphis C Joakim Noah (knee) could sit out his third consecutive contest.