Memphis Grizzlies, without Morant, beat Phoenix Suns in Durant's return

The Phoenix Suns lost at home to the Memphis Grizzlies 121-115 in the closing minutes on Sunday night at Footprint Center.

This was the first win for the Grizzlies (13-23) in three meetings with the Suns this season.

Devin Booker led the Suns (19-17) with 24 points and eight assists in the loss, and Kevin Durant had 23 points in his return after missing Phoenix's previous three games with right hamstring soreness.

All of Phoenix's starters, including Bradley Beal (12 points) who's one of the Suns' Big 3 with Booker and Durant, scored in double figures.

Playing without Memphis star Ja Morant (right shoulder soreness), the Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr., their top big and reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, led all scorers with 28 points, adding 10 rebounds and six assists. The Grizzlies' other two best scorers were Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane, who had 25 and 23, respectively.

The Suns' fourth-quarter woes this season set in again down the stretch. As Phoenix entered the fourth in front, 97-86, Memphis went on a 14-1 run until around the eight minute mark to take a two-point lead.

Memphis’ 3-point marksman and leading scorer Desmond Bane hit a go-ahead 3 at the 1:47 mark, Jackson's layup about 40 seconds later put the Grizzlies up by three, and Phoenix faltered thereafter.

Sunday's game ended the Suns' six-game homestand. Their next game is Monday at the Los Angeles Clippers.

Eubanks, Suns bench ignite largest lead in 3rd quarter

Phoenix has a 97-86 lead at the end of the third period, and gained its largest lead of the game from a push from the team's reserves.

The Suns bench was outscored by the Grizzlies' bench, 21-10, in the first half, but Phoenix's backups came in and outdueled their counterparts 11-3 in the third. Phoenix's backup big Drew Eubanks helped provide that spark, scoring six of his eight points and grabbed three of his seven total rebounds in the period.

The Suns went on a 15-3 run after trailing by one at 5:26 left.

All five of the Phoenix starters have scored in double figures, including Devin Booker's game-high 21 points, which is tied with Memphis starter Marcus Smart.

Suns' Booker, Durant heat up in 2nd quarter

Phoenix is still ahead of Memphis, 63-58, at halftime.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant each scored seven points in the second quarter, and have 14 and 11 total thus far. Plus, Suns big Jusuf Nurkic has 12 points, and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The second quarter was more competitive than the first.

Memphis took its first lead of the game on Marcus Smart's 3-pointer with 9:36 left in the quarter. Bradley Beal tied things 14 seconds later, but the Grizzlies retook the lead on a bucket by Jaren Jackson Jr. (game-high 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block) shortly after the nine-minute mark. The Grizzlies continued on a 14-4 run to go up by their biggest lead, 43-37, on Jackson’s trey at 7:50.

There were four lead changes and ties each, until the Suns went on a 13-2 run after 2:30 left in the half.

Booker, Allen solid shooting pushes Suns in 1st quarter

Phoenix leads Memphis, 32-26, at the first period's close.

The Suns had a balanced offensive attack, but were driven from the hot hands of Grayson Allen and Devin Booker.

Allen has the current team-high eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including two 3s. Booker's seven points came on 3-of-6 shooting with one made shot from deep, and added three assists.

The Suns jumped out to a 13-4 start through the game’s first five minutes. Memphis countered Phoenix's early lead with an 8-0 run to trim the lead to one approaching the the six-minute mark. Then Phoenix when on its own 8-0 run thereafter, maintaining the lead for the entire quarter.

Starting lineups

The Suns will start Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant at the three and four spots, as well as Jusuf Nurkic at center.

The Grizzlies are opening with guards Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane, plus Jaren Jackson Jr., Luke Kennard, and former Suns center Bismack Biyombo in the frontcourt.

Suns' Durant in for Big 3's 5th game together, Morant out

Kevin Durant (hamstring) has been ruled in for Phoenix, and Ja Morant has been downgraded to out for Memphis.

The Suns' and Grizzlies' respective coaches Frank Vogel and Taylor Jenkins said during their pregame media sessions that Durant and Morant were game-time decisions upon being asked about their previous questionable status.

The Republic's Duane Rankin reported that Vogel will have Durant on a minutes restriction.

In addition, Vogel said in the pregame that veteran guard Eric Gordon (right knee soreness) is out.

Suns' Durant, Grizzlies' Morant questionable

Two of both team's top stars might be out for Sunday's game.

Phoenix's Kevin Durant (right hamstring soreness) and Memphis' Ja Morant (right shoulder soreness) are questionable.

Durant has missed the Suns' past three games since his last appearance in their New Year's Eve win over the Orlando Magic.

Phoenix is 2-1 in Durant's absence, and the team's Big 3 in Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Durant would play their fifth game together if Durant returned against Memphis.

If Morant is upgraded to available, this would be his first game at Phoenix this season after he returned from his 25-game suspension on Dec. 19.

The struggling Grizzlies are 6-4 with Morant in their lineup. That includes Memphis' initial four-game win streak after his return, but has lost four of the team's last six.

Other Suns on injury report

Besides Durant, there are four more Suns on the team's pregame injury report. Their fourth-best scorer and sharpshooting guard Eric Gordon (right knee soreness) is questionable. Backup big Bol Bol (right ankle sprain), Nassir Little (left knee soreness), and Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) are out against Memphis.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies beat Phoenix Suns in Durant's return