Phoenix Suns let another one slip away in loss to Grizzlies: By the Numbers

Another night, another heartbreaking loss for the Phoenix Suns.

After the Suns rallied from a nine-point deficit to take a 101-94 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Memphis Grizzlies scored the game’s final eight points, including a 3-point play by Jeff Green with 4.5 seconds to play, to escape US Airways Center with a 102-101 victory Monday.

On his own bobblehead night, Isaiah Thomas scored all 24 of his points in the second half, including 16 in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer with 1:49 to play put the Suns (28-22) up 101-94.

It was Phoenix’s last points of the game, as Green’s rebound of a Mike Conley 3-point attempt led to a basket and a foul on Eric Bledsoe. Green hit the free throw, and Markieff Morris’ last second jumper was blocked by Marc Gasol to secure the Grizzlies’ seventh straight victory over the Suns and their seventh win overall

It wasn’t quite a buzzer-beating loss — the Suns have already suffered three of those this season — but it was another lead squandered by Phoenix, which let a late lead slip away in a double-overtime loss at Memphis on Jan. 11.

Memphis led for most of the game, including 49-44 at halftime and 77-72 after three quarters. Mike Conley led the Grizzlies (36-12) with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, and Zach Randolph contributed 19 points and nine rebounds.

Bledsoe had 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting to go with eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals in a losing effort.

Here’s how the Suns let another one slip through their fingers, by the numbers:

0

Until Saturday’s loss at Golden State, Suns second-year center Alex Len had scored in 13 consecutive games. But Len has now been held scoreless in back-to-back contests. He didn’t register a point in 19 minutes against the Warriors, and he didn’t score in 22 minutes of action Monday. He did contribute seven points, two blocks and two steals against Memphis.

3

Gerald Green hasn’t seen the court much lately. The Suns guard was a healthy scratch in the team’s win over the Bulls on Friday and only played 13 minutes in the Suns’ loss to the Warriors the following night. On Tuesday, Green played just three minutes and didn’t attempt a field goal.

4-17

The Suns certainly have opportunities for improvement when it comes to closing out opponents. Phoenix was 2-9 last season in games decided by three or fewer points. With Monday’s one-point loss, the Suns are now 2-8 this season in those games for a combined record of 4-17 over the last two seasons, the worst mark in the NBA.

7

The Suns came into Monday as the NBA’s second best team from the free-throw line (79 percent). But against the Grizzlies, they inexplicably missed their first seven attempts. Len, Bledsoe and Marcus Morris each missed a pair, and Goran Dragic failed to complete a three-point play. Phoenix’s first made free throw came from P.J. Tucker with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter. The Suns did go on to make their last 11 attempts from the line — but those early misses definitely came back to haunt them.

11

Brandan Wright had arguably his most productive outing with Phoenix. The 6-foot-10 forward, who the Suns acquired from the Celtics last month, had 11 points (on 5-of-6 shooting) Monday, and his six rebounds matched his highest output in a Suns uniform.

16

The Suns haven’t taken very good care of the ball lately. After committing 41 combined turnovers in their previous two games, they coughed the ball up 16 times Monday. All 10 Phoenix players who took the court committed at least one turnover against the Grizzlies.

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