Suns hit team-record 24 3s, blow out short-handed Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Devin Booker scored 23 points, hitting five of the Phoenix Suns’ franchise-record 24 3-pointers in a 128-97 romp over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
Mikal Bridges added 19 points, making 6 of 7 shots overall and 4 of 5 from long range. Cam Payne also had 19 points, a season high, and Chris Paul added 16 points and six assists.
Phoenix won for the eighth time in nine games. The Suns made 22 3-pointers Friday night in New Orleans in a game where they outscored the Pelicans 41-12 in the fourth quarter in a 132-114 victory.
Gorgui Dieng led Memphis with 15 points, most of them in a mop-up fourth quarter. Ja Morant had 12 points and five assists, and Jonas Valanciunas added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Grizzlies also were coming off a victory Friday night, at home over Detroit. Playing their fourth game in five nights, they rested key players Brandon Clarke, Kyle Anderson and Grayson Allen.
Justise Winslow returned after being out more than a year because of injuries. He missed all nine of his shots in the first half, eventually finishing with nine points on 3-of-14 shooting.
The Grizzlies missed their first 16 3-pointers and shot under 30% for most of the first half.
Phoenix led 65-34 at the half, and 96-64 after three.
TIP-INS
Suns: Paul’s pass that led to Bridges’ 3-pointer with 7:05 left in the second quarter, moved the Phoenix guard past Oscar Robertson for sixth on the career assists list. Robertson had 9,887. … Ended a four-game losing streak in the series. … The Suns made 13 of 25 3s in the first half. …Early in the third quarter, Paul and Bridges were a combined 11 for 11 from the field, including seven 3-pointers.
Grizzlies: Winslow had played only one game since Dec. 5, 2019, and had not appeared in a Memphis uniform because of injuries since he came to the Grizzlies from Miami in a Feb. 6, 2020 trade. … Used their ninth starting lineup of the season. … The 36-point deficit in the fourth quarter was the largest of the season for Memphis.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host Portland on Monday night.
Grizzlies: At Dallas on Monday night.
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