A short winning streak for the Memphis Grizzlies came to an end Saturday night in Phoenix. 

The star power of the Suns proved to be too much for a scrappy Memphis bunch trying to fight for every win it can get. The final score: 116-109.

Phoenix superstars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined to score 61, taking over the second half of a game the Grizzlies otherwise battled to keep close. 

Memphis had the Phoenix lead in single digits with under three minutes to play in the game, leaning on a 20-point fourth quarter from Desmond Bane to help them climb back to striking distance. 

It wasn’t enough. 

Momentum game

The Grizzlies continued their positive momentum in the first half against Phoenix after winning games against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. battled early foul trouble, but finished with 37 points and was an interior presence against the loaded scoring lineup of the Suns. 

Jackson was one of multiple bodies Memphis threw at Durant and Booker, holding them under 25 combined points at the half. The defensive effort kept Memphis close on the scoreboard in a game the Grizzlies entered as big underdogs. 

Jackson’s co-star, Bane, also had first-half foul trouble, picking up his third and moving to the bench at the 6:30 mark of the second quarter. 

Memphis played through his absence, maintaining a slim lead despite turning the ball over 10 times. In addition to Jackson, two-way wing Vince Williams Jr. continued his strong play with eight points and five rebounds over 16 minutes in the first half. 

The Phoenix breakthrough was on pause, but not for long. 

Troubles pile up

Jackson and Bane weren’t the only players in foul trouble on Saturday. Former Phoenix big man Bismack Biyombo also found himself out of the game for significant minutes after several quick whistles.

Biyombo picked up his fourth foul with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter and was also forced to the bench. The Suns capitalized on a 12-4 run that surged them in front, and they never looked back. 

The Grizzlies needed more offense. It didn’t matter that they shot the higher percentage, 45% to 43%. They were outscored at the free-throw line 35-22. 

A game that featured 15 ties and 13 lead changes slipped away. 

Jaylen Nowell, who started on the last day of his 10-day hardship contract, finished 3-for-12. 

While Nowell has been an important scoring piece as the Grizzlies battle a wave of injuries, he has been hot or cold. His poor shooting night followed a game where he stepped up and scored 19 points off the bench in a win over Dallas. 

The Memphis front office will have difficult decisions soon about his future if the league does not grant a second 10-day contract to the franchise. 

Star of the game

Jackson played only 14 minutes Friday while fighting foul trouble. 

He responded to the poor performance by shooting 13-for-21 from the floor with a game-high 37 points, while attempting double-digit free throws for the fifth time this season.

Up next

The Grizzlies will travel to take on the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. CT (Bally Sports Southeast).