(AP) The Suns snapped a 13-game skid with a 111-106 win over Memphis on Saturday.
Zach Randolph and Mike Conley scored 19 apiece for the Grizzlies, who had won 13 of 17 and were coming off a 112-95 victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Alex Len had 22 points and 16 rebounds. Mirza Teletovic added 18 points, P.J. Tucker scored 17 and Devin Booker 15 for the Suns, who won for just the third time in 31 games and gave interim coach Earl Watson his first victory in his 10th try.
The 13-game losing streak had tied for the longest skid in a single season in Suns history, and Saturday night’s win prevented a winless February for Phoenix.
The Suns, who hadn’t beaten the Grizzlies in two seasons, led nearly the entire game.
Phoenix dominated the game on the boards, 56-35. Tyson Chandler had 12 rebounds and Tucker 11.
Phoenix was up by as many as 12 in the second half and was ahead 102-91 after Chris Andersen was called for goaltending on Archie Goodwin’s layup with 4:26 to play. But Randolph made a short hook and Conley sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 102-96 with 2:46 left.
Len responded with a 15-footer and Conley made a pair of free throws to make it 104-98 with 2:06 to play.
Nobody scored for the next minute before Len slammed home a rebound, putting Phoenix ahead 106-98 with 1:05 remaining. Vince Carter’s 3-pointer sliced the lead to 106-101 with a minute to go before the Suns sealed it at the foul line.
The Grizzlies led just twice, the last time after a 12-3 run put them ahead 32-31 on Matt Barnes’ 23-footer with 7:11 left in the first half. But the Suns outscored Memphis 16-7 over the next 3:55, with Booker’s fast-break layup putting Phoenix up 47-39 with 3:16 left in the half. The Suns led 54-46 at the break. — Bob Baum
The Grizzlies will wrap up their three-game road trip in Denver on Monday. Catch Grizzlies Live! on FOX Sports Southeast and 92.9 ESPN Radio at 7pm followed by 7:30pm tip. Find your channel.
The Grizzlies will return to FedExForum on Wednesday, March 2 to tip-off against the Sacramento Kings.
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— Coach Dave Joerger
— Zach Randolph</strong
On if he saw the Suns’ confidence building When you’re playing against a young team that’s pretty much got nothing to lose, you give them confidence early in the game, they start playing at a much higher level and they started making plays. P.J. Tucker had a hell-of-a game, I thought that he really kind of set the tempo for them both offensively and defensively. Everybody kind of followed suit and it was their night. — Mike Conley Player Notes Brandan Wright left with a right knee injury with 11:05 left in the third quarter.
— Mike Conley
