On January 8, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and the Suns met the Grizzlies at home. Durant returned after missing three games in this game, while Morant missed with a shoulder injury.
The Suns played at a high level at the beginning of the first quarter, and the Grizzlies called a timeout early with an 8-1 opening game, and Durant rushed to kill the 3J dunk Jaren Jackson Jr. with the ball in a lightning flash. Smart became the Grizzlies' main point of attack after the timeout, and Bane also had some good scoring, and the Suns called a timeout after the Grizzlies chased it to 12-13.
The Suns came back from a timeout and went on an 8-0 run to take control again, with Booker and Allen scoring back-to-back points, and the Grizzlies 3J also scoring in response, and the Suns led 32-26 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter of the game, the Grizzlies came back and played a good start, 3J continued to score and then played a wave of 11-3, 37-35 to overtake the score, and then the two sides played back and forth, 3J continued to score to maintain a high shooting rate, after Vince Williams and Kennard hit three points in a row, the Grizzlies overtook the score 55-50, 3J then received three fouls and went off the break, the Suns scored consecutive points to regain the lead again, and the Suns led 63-58 at the end of the first half.
In the first half, 3J scored 18 points, Smart 10 points, Vince Williams 11 points, Booker 14 points, Durant 11 points, Nurkic 12 points and 12 rebounds, Allen 11 points.
The third quarter of the game was very intense at the beginning of the game, 3J only played 4 minutes before receiving his fourth foul and had to go to rest, Booker was able to shoot and pass the ball during this time, and even blocked, and the Suns led 82-75. After Smart and Bane scored consecutive points, the Grizzlies overtook the score 83-82, and then the two sides fell into a chaotic battle, the Suns seized the opportunity in the chaotic battle, and the Suns played a wave of 15-1 after Eubanks dunked 2+1, and the Suns led 97-86 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies went on a 10-1 run to 96-98, and after a timeout, Vince Williams hit a three-pointer again, Smart made a foul on the free throw line, and made 1 of 2 free throws, and the Grizzlies went on a 14-1 run to overtake the score at 100-98. Durant stepped up and scored three consecutive offensive rounds as the Grizzlies took a 105-104 lead. Bane and 3J both scored wonderfully, Durant and Booker scored occasionally, Beal made a key miss in the final minute and was stolen by Smart, and the Suns fell short 115-121 at home to the Grizzlies.