Phoenix Suns give San Antonio a scare but can't close deal, lose 11th straight 118-111

The Phoenix Suns have mastered how to play good teams close lately. They just haven't figured out the winning part yet.

Down 60-50 at halftime, Phoenix started the 3rd quarter with a quick surge that kept them within single digits the rest of the way, even tying the Spurs at 100 midway through the 4th quarter. The Suns trailed the Spurs 110-106 with 2:48 to play after a Ronnie Price layup but missed their next six field goals as the Spurs chugged to their 47th win on the season with remarkable consistency, scoring 30, 30, 28, and 30 points in each quarter en route to a 118-111 victory. With Kawhi Leonard sitting out with an injury, the point guards for San Antonio did the job tonight, as Tony Parker and Patty Mills combined for 43 points (with Mills making a career-high-tying six 3-pointers).

Despite shooting 52.4 percent for the game (and 62.5 percent from 3), the Spurs couldn't shake the Suns. Phoenix kept contact by committing just 14 turnovers and outrebounding San Antonio 46-42.

For the Suns, Alex Len had a career-high 23 points and added 13 rebounds in 24 minutes of play. Len started in place of Tyson Chandler, who missed the game with a bruised shoulder suffered in Phoenix's last game against Houston. The Suns also got 14 points each from Mirza Teletovic and Archie Goodwin, who returned to the bench as head coach Earl Watson went with Ronnie Price in the starting lineup. The newest 10-day player, Phil Pressey, had six points and five assists in his Suns debut.

The loss now extends the team's losing streak to 11 games, which is 4th longest in franchise history.