The Phoenix Suns (11-8) and Memphis Grizzlies (5-13) meet tonight at Footprint Center for their second matchup this season. Devin Booker will play for the Suns after missing last night’s game due to a right ankle sprain, The two teams just met last Friday, as Phoenix pulled off a 110-89 In-Season Tournament victory despite not having Kevin Durant. This is the second night of a back-to-back for both teams. The Suns have now dropped two straight after falling 119-111 to the Denver Nuggets last night. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, have won two straight after starting the year 3-13. Memphis will be missing eight (!) total players.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Local Game Information
Start Time: 7 p.m. MST
Location:Â Footprint Center
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 2, 2023
Betting Odds
Line:Â PHX -10.5
O/U:Â 220.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) AVAILABLE | Eric Gordon (right knee contusion) OUT | Bradley Beal (low back strain) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant (league suspension) OUT | Steven Adams (right knee MCL surgery) OUT | Marcus Smart (left foot sprain) OUT | Brandon Clarke (left achilles tendon repair) OUT | Luke Kennard (left knee bone bruise) OUT | Derrick Rose (left ankle sprain) OUT | Ziare Williams (illness) OUT | Jake LaRavia (left eye abrasion) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Memphis Grizzlies: Jaylen Nowell, Desmond Bane, David Roddy, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo
Last Time Out
The Phoenix Suns just played an absolute thriller last night, but ended up losing 119-111 to the defending champion Denver Nuggets (14-6) and fell to 11-8 on the season. Kevin Durant moved into 10th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in a momentous achievement for the Suns’ superstar. Durant finished with his seventh consecutive 30-point game, but went 0-for-10 on field goals in the second half. Jusuf Nurkić had a monster game in his own right, going at Nikola Jokic all night and finishing with 31 points to lead all scorers. However, he fouled out with under a minute to go in the game. Jokic finished with 21 points and 16 assists, and the Nuggets shot 57% overall as a team. The Suns did come back from 17 down to tie it up late, but ultimately could not put the finishing pieces together.
The shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies (5-13) won their second straight game last night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks (11-7), who were without Luka Doncic, 108-94. Desmond Bane scored 30 points on the night, while the Grizzlies held Kyrie Irving to a season-low 10 points and the Mavericks as a team to a season-low 37% shooting night from the floor. Jaylen Nowell, who is on a 10-day contract with Memphis, chipped in 19 points in the victory.
Flashback: Last Meeting (Nov. 24, 2023)
Devin Booker Propels Suns to 110-89 Victory over Grizzlies without Kevin Durant
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Grizzlies before their second matchup of the season (via Suns)
Each team’s stats (via Suns and Grizzlies):
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Be careful with, but get Booker going
- Play much better defensively in first half
- Continue to let Jusuf Nurkić cook
- Shut down Desmond Bane again
- Don’t overlook the opponent
WATCH: Suns’ Interviews from Last Night’s Game
“Amazing to be Amongst the Greats” Kevin Durant Reflects on Moving to Top-10 All-Time in Scoring
Jusuf Nurkić Scores Season-High 31 Points vs. Nuggets, but Suns Fall 119-111 to Defending Champs
Preview: Devin Booker Available, Eric Gordon Out
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
