Grizzlies: Contributor score predictions vs. red-hot Phoenix Suns

The Memphis Grizzlies will try to shake off their tough home loss against the Charlotte Hornets at home again against the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Unfortunately for Memphis, the Suns are one of the hottest teams in the league, winning each of their last six games.

The Suns are led by Devin Booker, who is averaging 22.6 points per game. Behind him, you’ll see a group of five players who average double figures scoring. The Suns have one of the best scoring offenses in the league, averaging 111 points per game.

Memphis, on the other hand, has the second-worst scoring defense in the league, allowing 114.2 points per contest. This will not be a good matchup in that category.

Can the Memphis Grizzlies overcome the odds to win against the Suns? Our contributors weigh in.

Jack Williams (Site Expert): I think I have picked Memphis to win every single game except for one this season. If there’s a contest that the Grizz should lose, it’s this one against a Phoenix Suns team that hasn’t lost in six games. But for some reason, I think Memphis will win this game. They’ve been wildly inconsistent this year and have only lost two in a row once. I expect a Grizz bounce-back win based on nothing but a hunch.

Memphis Grizzlies 131, Phoenix Suns 119

Noah Hancock: Memphis had a rough game against the Hornets. They will bounce back tonight against a great Suns team. This will be the game that will help define Memphis as a team to be watched. Suns are sitting 3rd in the west right now. And that may scare Grizzlies fans, but we are currently the only team to beat the Warriors in the NBA!

Hold fast Grizzlies fans — now that Dillion Brooks is back, the team just needs to get back into the groove of things. I expect this challenge to benefit them in a great way pulling them together to hand the Suns their 4th loss on the season. The Grizzlies may be down big at the half but they will keep pressing and I think we will see a 3rd quarter come back as we have so commonly behind a big scoring Quarter from a Grizzlies player (my prediction is Desmond Bane, after his bad shooting night the other night).

Memphis Grizzlies 115, Phoenix Suns 112

Will Jones: The Grizzlies could not have shot worse against the Hornets on Wednesday. The offense was atrocious but what keeps getting overlooked is the fact that the Grizz are last in the league in defense. Yep, dead last. Something’s gotta give, either the Grizzlies start losing a lot more or they pull it together on defense. I predict the latter against Phoenix and the lockdown effort helps them pull out a close one over the reigning Western Conference champs.

Memphis Grizzlies 108, Phoenix Suns 104

Jacob Ellerbee: Phoenix is one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. They’ve won six consecutive games and have had four different leading scorers in those victories. Unselfish play is what helped propel them to the NBA Finals last season and they’re using the same blueprint this season. The Suns are a tough match-up for the Grizzlies and I think the team’s defensive struggles will continue.

Memphis Grizzlies 108, Phoenix Suns 119