Jonas Valanciunas and Devin Booker battle as Memphis Grizzlies defeat Phoenix Suns

Kyle Irving

Jonas Valanciunas and Devin Booker battle as Memphis Grizzlies defeat Phoenix Suns image

Jonas Valanciunas was terrific for the Memphis Grizzlies yet again.

The Lithuanian big man was on a mission and he could not be stopped as he led the Grizzlies past the Phoenix Suns 120-115.

Valanciunas stuffed the stat sheet scoring 34 points (16-28 FG) to go with 20 rebound, five assists, two steals and two blocks. 11 of his 20 rebounds came on the offensive glass!


The Grizzlies needed every bit of Valanciunas' performance to outlast another ridiculous performance from Suns' star Devin Booker.

Booker came out gunning for the third-straight game. After scoring 50-plus in back-to-back contests, Booker scored a quarter season-high 24 points in the first frame to pick up right where he left off.

The Kentucky-product was chasing history, aiming to join Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Kobe Bryant as the only players to ever score 50-plus in three consecutive games. 

He fell just short of that mark, going for 48 points (and 11 assists) on 19-for-29 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from long range and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.


In this instance, Booker will have to settle for being the first player in Suns history to score 40 points in three consecutive games.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.