What We Learned From Suns' Resounding Victory vs Grizzlies

The Phoenix Suns did exactly what they needed to do Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies

A Devin Booker bank shot from 27 feet away in the waning seconds of the game gave the Suns extra breathing room for the in-season tournament standings in a resounding 110-89 victory.

While Memphis is a squad that's struggled mightily in a number of ways, it was nice to see Phoenix control the game on both ends in the absence of Kevin Durant.

Three things Suns fans can take into Sunday's date with the New York Knicks:

Jordan Goodwin is the Answer at Backup PG

For anyone with lingering questions about the backup point guard spot in Phoenix - Jordan Goodwin is the guy and should continue to be.

While Goodwin certainly brings volatility and inconsistency to the offensive side of the ball, the performance he had tonight (14 points, 6-8 shooting) should be a reminder of what he can be on offense - a fearless attacker that also provides solid court vision/the ability to knock down open jumpers.

More important than the strong offensive showing is the continuous infectious energy the third-year guard provides on a possession-to-possession basis. While none of Goodwin's "hustle stats" are eye-popping, the impact between the lines is undeniable.

Goodwin is a key piece of the newfound culture in Phoenix, and Suns fans should be thrilled that he was included in the Bradley Beal trade.

Suns Defense Remains Steady

The Suns' defense put together a strong performance against Memphis. While Memphis is notably undermanned, Phoenix remains in the middle of the pack in many defensive categories, which is much better than what was expected heading into the season.

Phoenix doesn't have any gaudy outputs on the defensive end, save for leading the league in blocks, and that's totally fine. The Suns have had one of the very best offenses in basketball in the midst of Devin Booker's return, and a league-average defense will more than suffice more times than not in that scenario.

Suns fans should not only appreciate the standout individual defenders (Okogie, Durant, Eubanks, etc.) but also the consistent team-based effort and the job Frank Vogel has done in putting his players into the best positions to succeed.

Devin Booker is Back

Devin Booker hasn't been gone the past six games, but he has struggled through some inefficient shooting nights.

Booker has managed to impact games in a multitude of ways outside of his typical torrid scoring outbursts, having made a leap into being one of the best playmakers in the league and a plus defender.

Well, Booker finally put everything together against Memphis- including as an efficient volume scorer. Booker scored 40 points on 21 shots, while also hitting 3-of-4 attempts from deep and getting to the free throw line to the tune of 9 attempts.

Booker also showed real two-way impact, snatching four steals and blocking a shot.

No Kevin Durant, no problem - and that's a good thing - in small doses.

The Suns have two undisputed superstars that can carry the team through rough stretches and are nearly unbeatable as a duo.

This Suns squad is on the right track- and the scary part is the team is only scratching the surface of what it can be eventually.