Memphis Grizzlies vs. Phoenix Suns - News - December 02, 2023 | FOX Sports

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・December 3, 2023 December 03 Dec 03

Booker drops 34 with 7 assists as Suns top Grizzlies 116-109

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Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ

Luke Kennard - 2-3 weeks from returningKennard is expected to return in 2-3 weeks as he overcomes a bone bruise in his left knee, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

ImpactKennard has missed the Grizzlies past eight contests after suffering the bone bruise during a loss to the Lakers on Nov.14. The 27-year-old will miss Memphis' next five games if he returns on the early end of his expected timeline, which approximately aligns him with Ja Morant's return from suspension. A limited workload of Derrick Rose (ankle) and 10-day signee Jaylen Nowell have joined Desmond Bane in supporting Memphis' backcourt of late, but the eventual return of Kennard will be a huge factor in improving the Grizzlies' 33.2 percent three-point shooting as a team, which ranks last in the league.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Jaylen Nowell - Gets another 10-day contractNowell and the Grizzlies have agreed to a second 10-day hardship contract, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

ImpactNowell has appeared in five games with the Grizzlies after the league granted Memphis two hardship exceptions to combat the team's injury woes. The 24-year-old started and logged 34 minutes in Saturday's loss to Phoenix as a follow-up to a 19-point effort in Friday's win over Dallas. His pure bucket-getting style isn't known for it's efficiency, but Nowell provides a spark and valuable contrast alongside the Grizzlies' defense-first cast. Nowell's new 10-day deal will place him under contract for Memphis' next three games.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Devin Booker - Shines in return to actionBooker supplied 34 points (9-21 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 13-13 FT), 10 rebounds, seven assists and one steal over 37 minutes during Saturday's 116-109 victory over the Grizzlies.

ImpactBooker sat out the loss against the Nuggets on Friday due to a right ankle sprain, but he was deemed available to feature Saturday, and he responded by leading the team in scoring while sniffing a triple-double. Booker has struggled with injuries this season and has been limited to just 11 appearances, but he's averaging 27.9 points, 8.4 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game when available.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Jusuf Nurkic - Sniffs double-doubleNurkic accumulated 14 points (6-18 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 26 minutes before fouling out of Saturday's 116-109 win over Memp...

ImpactNurkic ended just one rebound away from a double-double in this one, and that certainly salvaged his fantasy outing in a game where his shot just wasn't falling. Nurkic has done a good job of embracing a bigger role on offense whenever Bradley Beal (back), Eric Gordon (knee) or Devin Booker have missed time, and he's enjoying a solid campaign so far. He's scored in double digits in six of his last nine contests.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Kevin Durant - Efficient shooting effort SaturdayDurant contributed 27 points (10-14 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 5-7 FT), two rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal in 33 minutes during Saturday's 116-109 victory over the Grizzlies.

ImpactDurant was coming off a struggling shooting display against the Nuggets on Friday, but he bounced back less than 24 hours after that loss and delivered an excellent display in an easy win for the Suns. Durant is one of the most consistent scorers in the league, and an off night will not affect his fantasy upside, as he remains one of the best offensive weapons in the league. The numbers back that up, as Durant is averaging 32.4 points per game over his last 10 appearances.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Vince Williams Jr. - Decent output off bench SaturdayWilliams supplied 12 points (3-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-5 FT), six rebounds and two assists over 30 minutes during Saturday's 116-109 loss to Phoenix.

ImpactWilliams was one of the few bright spots for Memphis outside of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson, and he made his presence felt while logging an expanded role off the bench. Williams has scored in double digits in his last two outings, and he could be in line for a bigger role with the second unit over the upcoming games.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE

Jaren Jackson Jr. - Thrives on offense SaturdayJackson totaled 37 points (13-21 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 9-10 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 35 minutes during Saturday's 116-109 loss to Phoenix.

ImpactJackson has made a name for himself in The Association as an elite rebounder and defensive presence, but he stood out as a scoring threat in this one. This 37-point output represented one of the best scoring performances of his entire career, and while he's not expected to carry the offense on a regular basis going forward, he has proven he can put up strong offensive numbers when called upon duty. Jackson is averaging 18.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.4 blocks per game over his last five contests.

DECEMBER 3, 2023•ROTOWIRE