West Notes: Suns, Devin Booker, Rockets, Grizzlies

Suns

Shooting guard Devin Booker took little joy in his 62-point night, considering the Suns lost the game to the Pacers on Friday night.

“Those are the shots I’ve been taking all season,” he said. “We’ve got some things to figure out, especially on the defensive end.”

• Phoenix has now extended the franchise record for consecutive games with 40-point scorers to five.

Rockets

Guard Jalen Green erupted for 36 points, but coach Ime Udoka said Friday’s blowout win over the Hornets was a team effort through and through. That was especially the case on defense.

“I mean, it shows that our identity is when we guard at that level, we are in good shape, and so anytime we can get stops and not have to play in the half court every time at a slower pace, it benefits a lot of guys,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We are going to get back to the identity of guarding instead of just getting in track meets up and down with teams like we have lately.”

• The Rockets had lost five of six entering the game. “We needed this one bad,” rookie forward Cam Whitmore said. “Coach has preached just be tough and take that anger into the next game and that’s what we did. So we have to keep this momentum going.”

Grizzlies

Don’t look now, but the wildly shorthanded Grizzlies have won three straight. That included a 107-106 nailbiter over the Magic on Friday.

“We’ve been telling each other to continue to play with the pass,” guard Luke Kennard said. “Continue to move the ball. I think we’ve done a really good job over the past few games.”

• Interestingly, Memphis is 5-15 at home, but 13-12 on the road. The Grizzlies next visit the Pacers on Sunday afternoon.