Jae Crowder and Devin Booker scored 17 points apiece, Chris Paul compiled a double-double and the Phoenix Suns used a 36-point first quarter to run away from the host Memphis Grizzlies en route to a 119-94 victory Friday night.
Paul finished with 15 points, a game-high 12 assists and five steals for the Suns, who won their seventh in a row as they tipped off a three-game road trip.
Ja Morant led all scorers with 26 points for the Grizzlies, who completed a three-game homestand with a second straight defeat.
Phoenix wasted no time taking command. Crowder bombed in a 3-pointer 14 seconds into the game and the Suns never trailed.
The advantage was just 19-16 before Cameron Payne contributed a pair of 3-pointers to a 17-7 burst that opened a 36-23 advantage by period’s end.
The Suns gradually pulled away, going up by as many as 38 points.
Crowder shot 6-for-10 overall and 5-for-8 on 3-pointers for the Suns, who outshot the Grizzlies 48.9 percent to 37.8 percent overall and made nearly half of their 3-pointers (18-of-37).
Phoenix also made all nine of its free throws.
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Paul’s five steals equaled his season high, set last Thursday against the Houston Rockets. The double-double was his fifth of the year.
Mikal Bridges (13 points), Cameron Johnson (12) and Payne (10) also scored in double figures for the Suns, who haven’t lost since a 110-107 home defeat to the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 27.
Johnson was the Suns’ leading rebounder with seven, while Booker complemented his 17 points with seven assists.
Morant went 10-for-19 from the field and also found time for team highs in rebounds with 12 and assists with six.
The double-double was his third of the season and his first since Oct. 27 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Steven Adams had a 10-rebound game for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. had 19 points in a losing effort.
–Field Level Media