The Republic discusses the Suns’ upcoming homestand, matchup with Spurs
The Phoenix Suns begin a 3-game homestand on Oct. 29, in which they host the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs.
Republic staff
The Phoenix Suns dropped a fourth straight game, losing 114-113 to the Memphis Grizzlies before a sellout crowd of 17,071 on Oct. 29 at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Devin Booker missed a 3 over Jaren Jackson Jr., at the buzzer with no timeouts left after Ja Morant hit a short floater with 7.6 seconds left to lift the Grizzlies (3-2) to victory.
Booker paced the Suns with a game-high 32 points, with 29 coming in the second half, while Morant scored 28 in leading Memphis. Mark Williams posted a second straight 20-point double-double, finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds in his first start with the Suns.
The Grizzlies scored 37 points off 22 Phoenix turnovers.
The Suns were minus Jalen Green, who hasn’t played due to a right hamstring strain, and Dillon Brooks, who sat a second straight game with right groin soreness.
Here are the takeaways from Wednesday’s game. The Suns (1-4) continue their three-game homestand Friday against the Utah Jazz, which defeated Phoenix on Oct. 27 in overtime, 138-134, at Salt Lake City.
Booker’s final two 3s from deep
Booker shook off a 1-of-9 shooting effort in the first half that resulted in just three points to erupt for 29, with 16 coming in the fourth quarter on 5-of-8 shooting (2-of-4 from 3).
With Phoenix up one, Booker took a step-back 3, going to his left, over Grizzlies guard Jaylen Wells from the wing. This was a chance to drive for a pull-up, but Booker elected to hoist a 3.
Final 4 possessions of Suns 114-113 loss to Grizzlies.
MEM: Ja Morant miss, Devin Booker defending.
PHX: Booker step-back 3 miss over Jaylen Wells.
MEM: Morant pull up over Collin Gillespie off Santi Aldama hit ahead.
PHX: Booker 3 miss over Jaren Jackson Jr.
Thoughts? #Suns… pic.twitter.com/T8KIqAg2TM
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025
The misfire led to a chance for Memphis, as Santi Aldama kicked it ahead to Morant, who attacked the paint and scored over Collin Gillespie.
With no timeouts, Booker then brought it across halfcourt and had Jackson Jr. backpeddling. Time was running out, but Booker had enough time to cross over the taller defender before launching a 26-footer over Jackson with 1.9 seconds left.
“Got a pretty decent look,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “I think it’s millimeters off.”
“Live-ball.”
Jordan Ott on turnovers as Grizzlies scored 37 points off 22 Phoenix turnovers in Suns 114-113 loss.
On Devin Booker’s final shot with no timeouts left: “We got the ball to the right person. Got a pretty decent look. I think it’s millimeters off.”
On Booker’s… pic.twitter.com/bJLitVUls0
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025
Jackson tends to be foul-prone, but referees tend to avoid calling fouls in situations like this. Think Booker took that into consideration?
In the second game of the 2019-20 season. The Suns were down a point in overtime at Denver and Booker elects to drive in attempting to draw a foul. He drew contact from Malik Beasley and lost his balance when putting up the shot. No foul called. Torrey Craig, who later became Booker’s teammate in Phoenix, blocked the shot as time expired.
“At the end of the game, you’re never supposed to try to get something at the rim,” Booker said after that game. “I should’ve known better, but you live and you learn.”
Booker has game winners since, with perhaps his most memorable one being a 3 against the New York Knicks over two defenders, giving the Suns a 116-113 victory on Nov. 26, 2023, in Madison Square Garden.
Unnecessary challenge costly for Suns
Ott pulled off two successful challenges in Monday’s loss to Utah, with one near the end of the regulation leading up to a sequence of events that Williams capped with a putback with 1.9 seconds to force overtime.
He had another successful challenge, but maybe got a little greedy with one later.
Down four in the fourth, Booker fouled Wells on a corner 3 in front of the Suns bench. Looked like a clear foul. The NBA is placing emphasis on fouls on jump shots.
The Suns still elected to challenge the call and lost it and a timeout. Wells hit the ensuing free throws to double Memphis’ lead, 103-95, with 5:59 left.
The Suns burned their last timeout down a point with two minutes left. Ott said sometimes it’s best to go with the flow and not call a timeout.
However, play stopped for Phoenix. The players appeared hesitant and didn’t have momentum going into that final possession. They needed a timeout to regather, advance the ball and run a play for a two or three to win the game.
Turnovers part of bigger problem
The Suns are 26th in the NBA in turnovers at 17.8 per game and last in points allowed off turnovers at 27.4 a game.
The Suns compound matters with live-ball turnovers that lead to direct transition points. Memphis had 13 steals that resulted in more than half of the 37 points off turnovers.
Suns guard Collin Gillespie on what’s leading to the turnovers: “It’s a little bit of everything. We have to be better taking care of the ball. Decision making. Probably play off two feet a little bit more. We’re getting caught in the air trying to make some passes.”
22 Phoenix… pic.twitter.com/D2jOWejuZj
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025
This team already has little margin for error, but continues to jump in the air and make either poor or last-second decisions that lead to mistakes. This was a shared experience on Oct. 27.
Nine different Suns committed at least one turnover, with Ryan Dunn and Booker each having three and Grayson Allen committing a team-high five.
Playing too fast?
The Suns play fast to aid winning the possession game. They’ve attempted 10 more shots than their opponents so far this season, but maybe they’re playing too fast.
“We need to try to get an early advantage as often as possible,” Ott said. “And if we don’t get the advantage, we’ll have more opportunities to get it as the shot clock progresses. Statistically, we’re there, top five in getting shots early in the clock, but we can’t turn it over as a result of playing too fast.”
Key word. Need.
Ott said during training camp the Suns will find out if the style of play will work and adjust.
If this trend continues, Phoenix may have to slow it down a tad, even if it leads to losing the possession battle. Valued possessions are better than more possessions.
It’s about time, but the plan is working
The Suns have had Williams on a conditioning plan since July 1 in looking to have the 7-footer ready for his first season in Phoenix. They took his injury history into account. He’d only played 106 games in his first three NBA seasons with the Charlotte Hornets.
“I’m a little more familiar with that. Yeah, it felt good.”
Mark Williams gets his 1st start with Suns, posting a second straight 20-point double-double of 20 points (9-of-11 FGs) and 11 rebounds to go with four steals and a block in loss to Grizzlies.
“I don’t think my mindset… pic.twitter.com/O4OlnCGyyA
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025
They worked on strengthening his lower body, improving his flexibility and didn’t play him in their four preseason games.
They put him on target minutes ranging from say 22 to 28, brought him off the bench for his first three games and didn’t have him suit up for the second of a back-to-back at Denver.
“He’s a big presence out there and now he’s done it back-to-back games.”
Jordan Ott on Mark Williams posting 2nd straight double-double in his 1st start with Suns.
Monday at Jazz: 25 points, 11 rebounds.
Wednesday vs Grizzlies: 20 points, 11 rebounds.
“He’s set a new… pic.twitter.com/s1KEWPM1bC
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025
They’ve since seen him put up back-to-back double-doubles with the first being a 25-point, 11-rebound effort at Utah.
They then finally started him against Memphis. Williams is their best big, but the Suns stuck with the plan. He still played under 30 minutes at 27:43.
So far, the plan is working.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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