Suns try to take winning formula on road to Charlotte

After going nearly five weeks without a victory, the Phoenix Suns finally broke through on Saturday, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 111-106 to snap a 13-game losing streak and give interim coach Earl Watson his first career victory.

On Tuesday, they'll try to snap a 15-game road losing streak that dates to Dec. 7 while also winning back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 7-9. The Suns, who played only one road game in February, will tip off a four-game Eastern road trip by taking on the Charlotte Hornets. The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona, starting at 4:30 p.m.

The Suns (15-44) are hoping to avoid matching a franchise-worst 18-game road losing streak set in 1973-74. They are 3-28 since their two-game streak in early December, but one of the three wins came at home over Charlotte on Jan. 6. Mirza Teletovic had 19 points in a 111-102 win.

Center Alex Len was the driving force in Saturday's win over Memphis, scoring 22 points -- one short of his career high -- and pulling down 16 rebounds. Len is averaging 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in his last four games. He was producing 6.9 points and 6.2 boards per contest in his first 51 this season.

"It's just one win," said Watson, now 1-9 since taking over for Jeff Hornacek. "It's not a celebration, it's not a championship, it's not a major leap in the right direction. It's one step forward."

The Suns have won three straight in Charlotte and seven of the last eight between the teams. Their top five scorers from last season's victory in Charlotte, however, are either no longer with the team or injured.

Phoenix has been outscored by an average of 20.1 points per game during the 15 consecutive losses on the road.

The Hornets (30-28) are back home after a 4-2 road trip that ended with an 87-76 loss to Atlanta on Sunday. Charlotte shot a season-worst 33.3 percent, and Kemba Walker was held to nine points on 3-of-15 shooting.

"It was a good trip for us, especially to start with five games after the (All-Star break), but this is a game we felt we could have had," forward Marvin Williams said. "It's disappointing, but we did some good things on this road trip."

Locked in a competitive postseason race, the Hornets play eight of their next nine at home and are still in strong contention for the Southeast Division lead -- trailing Miami by 2 1/2 games and Atlanta by 2 games.

Walker has a combined 52 points and 13 assists in his last two games against the Suns.