Booker, Suns frustrated after 3rd loss in a row: These games will cost us

Devin Booker acknowledged the pressure is on the Phoenix Suns after losing their third straight contest Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies and falling to 15-17.

"Frustration level's high," he said after the 117-112 defeat at home, according to PHNX Sports' Gerald Bourguet. "We're all competitors in here, and we realize these games are gonna cost us at the end of the season.

"So you want to do your work early, pre-All-Star break, before it comes down to the nitty-gritty. You never know what could happen. Injuries can happen around that time, too. We wanna gain some ground, get up out of the play-in position and just win every possible game."

The loss was the Suns' sixth in their last seven games and dropped them to 11th in the Western Conference - outside the play-in picture entirely. The Grizzlies never trailed in Tuesday's contest despite missing several key rotation players, including star guard Ja Morant due to a shoulder joint sprain.

Booker finished with 16 points, nine assists, and four rebounds but couldn't find his stroke. He shot 4-of-20 from the field, including 1-of-7 in the fourth quarter, and was 2-of-8 overall from deep.

"I got a lot of good looks," the Suns guard said when asked about his off night. "I think just playing a few more games, getting back to regular minutes (will help), but there's no excuse for it.

"Especially around the rim. Just trusting that last burst, or trusting that last step, is something that will probably take a couple games to get acquainted with."

It was the 28-year-old's first game back after missing the previous five with a groin strain, marking just the 12th time the Suns' Big Three of Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal have played together in 32 games this season. Durant scored a team-high 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting and added 10 rebounds and six assists; however, Beal was ruled out after the first quarter after injuring his hip in an awkward fall.