With the Phooenix Suns on a crucial road trip and needing to win as much as they can to get into the top eight of the Western Conference, faced the current number five seed Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. The Suns fell behind early and then fought their way into the game, but ran out of gas late as the Grizzlies came away with a 104-93 win behind Rudy Gay's 32 points.
It was a game in which Grant Hill's defense was sorely missed. Jared Dudley had the defensive assignment and was unable to contain him. It also affected his offense as well. Dudley only scored two points on 1-6 shooting.
The defense allowed 32 first quarter points and had to play catch-up the rest of the game. In the fourth quarter, behind the second unit, the Suns were able to come back and tie the game. But the starters came back in and the Grizz pulled away.
Sebastian Telfair had another solid game, being a pest defensively and providing tons of energy. He finished seven points and eight assists.
However, it was the starters that struggled on the court. Along with Dudley's two points, Channing Frye only added five. The combined +/- of the starting unit was -78. The bench? +23.
The loss, combined by a Denver Nuggets win, pushes the Suns two games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot.
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