Chandler’s dunk, Booker’s 32 send Suns past Grizzlies
Back from injury, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles past Memphis Grizzlies guard Andrew Harrison, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game. AP
PHOENIX — Tyson Chandler dunked Dragan Bender’s inbounds pass from the opposite sideline with 0.4 seconds remaining to give the Phoenix Suns a 99-97 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time).
Bender threw a perfect pass and Chandler jumped over a defender to slam it down, though the play was reviewed by officials to see if there was offensive basket interference. After replay review, the basket counted, and Kobi Simmons missed the Grizzlies’ last attempt to tie at the buzzer.
Devin Booker scored 32 points in his return from a three-week injury absence before fouling out in the final minute, but the Suns needed one final play after Jarell Martin slammed in a rebound with 0.6 seconds remaining to tie it at 97.
The Suns beat the Grizzlies in a tight game at home for the second time in six days after handing them a 97-95 defeat on Dec. 21. Phoenix has won four of its last six games while Memphis has lost nine of 11.
The Suns used a 13-0 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 91-82 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies went nearly six minutes without a point.
But Booker fouled out with 41 seconds to go and Memphis cut it to 96-95 when Tyreke Evans made a layup with 6.2 seconds left.
T.J. Warren scored 17 points for the Suns.
Evans had 25 points for the Grizzlies, who got 18 from Marc Gasol.
Booker hit his first shot of the game, a 16-foot jumper 13 seconds after tipoff. He made 9 of 21 shots and 11 of 12 of free throws.
The Suns used a 12-0 run to take a 21-10 lead in the first quarter, and led by 10 at the end of the quarter after handing out 11 assists. Alex Len’s putback dunk of a missed shot with 2.6 seconds to play made it 29-19.
The Grizzlies trimmed the deficit to 57-53, at halftime. Booker scored 20 points in the first half.
