Sans Booker, Suns no match for Grizzlies

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Despite a bit of a youth movement, it's still the Marc Gasol and Mike Conley show for the Memphis Grizzlies -- with a good amount of defense mixed in.

Memphis held Phoenix to 46 percent shooting, including the Suns connecting on only 9 of 33 shots outside the arc in a 117-96 victory Saturday night.

"I think defense is what really keys and starts our offense for us," said Conley, who finished with 18 points and seven assists. "Gives us easy opportunities. Gives us a different flow, a different rhythm. .It allows us to play with a little more pace and get guys more opportunities."

Gasol led the Memphis scoring with 19 points. MarShon Brooks, like Conley, had 18 points, Garrett Temple added 15, and Wayne Selden 14.

"We want to be a versatile offensive team where you can't key in on one or two guys to shut us down," Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "It's good to see a bunch of guys get double-figure points. That means we're sharing the ball well."

With Suns leading scorer Devin Booker out nursing a left hamstring strain, it was up to Deandre Ayton, the first overall pick in last summer's draft, to do his part. He led Phoenix, scoring 24 points -- tops for his young season -- and had eight rebounds.

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But he didn't get a lot of offensive help to replace Booker's missing 28 points a game. Guard Isaiah Canaan was the only other starter reaching double figures, scoring 11 points. Rookie Elie Okobo came off the bench for 12 points, and Jamal Crawford added 11. The Suns have lost four straight.

While Memphis took a first-quarter lead, the advantage was built in the second, when the Grizzlies outscored Phoenix 42-25 for a 68-43 halftime lead.

"We came out lackadaisical with the turnovers and stuff," Ayton said. "They started getting (into) a rhythm early, and they started making a lot of shots in the first half, especially in the second quarter."

From there, Memphis would extend it to 26 midway through the fourth quarter, leading both coaches to start clearing their benches.

"We are repeating the same mistakes. Turnovers, obviously." Phoenix coach Igor Kokoskov said of the Suns' 19 miscues. "It was a big part of this game.

"We have to play better. But not just better. We have to execute better."

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TIP-INS


Ayton has scored at least 18 points in four of his five games this season. ... Josh Jackson started in Booker's spot. ...Jackson had six turnovers in the first quarter. ... Ryan Anderson, who has a reputation as a 3-point shooter, entered the game 3 of 15 from outside the arc this season. His percentage didn't get any better, going 1 for 3 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT


Suns play at Oklahoma City on Sunday night