In an overtime rock fight, Kevin Durant missed a game-tying 3-pointer as the Phoenix Suns ran out of gas in a backbreaking 151-148 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Despite an offensive explosion where five Phoenix players scored at least 20 points, Ja Morant turned up the tempo late in the game to lead the Grizzlies to victory.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points and 10 assists but fouled out late in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant followed with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Bradley Beal added a 24-point, 11-assist double-double. Bol Bol and Grayson Allen erupted for 23 and 21 points. Allen sunk six 3s.
Morant shot an incredulous 7-for-25 from the field (1-for-12 on 3s) but led the game in scoring with 29 points and was flanked by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 28 points and Desmond Bane with 25.
Possible the most crushing loss of this Suns season, Phoenix (27-31) falls four games below .500 and further from the Sacramento Kings in the final play-in spot.
Memphis erases Suns lead in 3rd quarter
Despite a huge third quarter from Bradley Beal and Bol Bol, the Grizzlies’ defense amped up to erase Phoenix’s 10 point lead ahead of the final quarter, 103-101.
Beal put up nine and three of his 20 points and 10 assists in the third quarter. Bol erupted for 10 of his 18 points in the period as well. Phoenix’s offense was humming, along with Beal and Bol, Devin Booker put up 20 points and six assists and Kevin Durant added 19 points, six rebounds and five assists of his own.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had another good quarter, scoring 10 of his 23 points to that point in the game. Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama added 14 points each and Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke had 12 points each ahead of the final quarter.
Feb 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Suns maintain control in 2nd quarter
Devin Booker and Bradley Beal each scored eight points in the second quarter as a part of an impressive team effort to keep the Suns over Memphis going into halftime, 62-58.
Kevin Durant led all scorers with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, getting back on track to the efficient scoring Phoenix is used to. Booker (6-for-9) and Beal (4-for-11) followed with 12 and 11 points respectively. Phoenix’s collective connectivity is what stood out most in the first half. Eighteen of their 24 field goals were assisted on.
Jaren Jackson Jr. continued to lead the Grizzlies with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting while Ja Morant continued to struggle with six points on 0-of-8 shooting from the field and 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. Regardless of that, the five other Memphis players that notched a point scored at least six points, keeping them close to the scorching-hot Suns in the first half.
Feb 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) defends during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Durant, Suns push the pace in 1st quarter
Kevin Durant, coming off a subpar shooting night, scored 11 points (3-of-4 shooting) in the first quarter as Phoenix pushed the pace early on the Grizzlies, 34-31.
Led by Durant, seven Suns scored in the opening quarter. Bol Bol was inserted into the starting lineup in Memphis and erupted for eight points on 3-for-4 from the field. Starting off hot and taking advantage of Memphis’ early struggles was important as the Grizzlies are the league’s best offense.
Ja Morant started 0-for-6 from the field, scoring only two points, but Jaren Jackson Jr., who has been having a career year, kept the Grizzlies in the game with 10 early points without missing a shot.
Feb 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) defends during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Injury report
Phoenix’s main rotation has been fully healthy since returning from the All-Star break. One of its latest acquisitions, Cody Martin, remains out with a sports hernia. Monte Morris (low back soreness) was also out.
For Memphis, the only player on its active roster listed on the injury report was Zyon Pullin, who was out with right knee patellar tendinopathy.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
