PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) slam dunks in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans yesterday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
By RENALDO DORSETT
Tribune Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
THE Phoenix Suns are mired in a losing streak, but Deandre Ayton continues to enjoy one of his best statistical stretches for the season.
Ayton finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but fouled out after 33 minutes of the Suns’ 129-124 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans yesterday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He shot 13-18 from the field.
Since November 18, Ayton has posted a double double in 10 of 13 games while averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds and a blocked shot.
In the month of December, the Suns have lost four consecutive games and five of their last six.
Ayton began the month with just eight points and six rebounds in a 122- 121 loss to the Houston Rockets.
He followed with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 133-95 win over San Antonio, 20 points, three blocks, and eight rebounds in a 130-11 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, eight points and seven rebounds in a loss to the Boston Celtics, and 25 points with 14 rebounds in the first game of a back to back against the Pelicans on December 9.
Through 24 games, Ayton is averaging 17 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 63 percent shooting from the field.
He notched 30 double-doubles last year in only 58 games played and already has 13 double doubles this season.
“There aren’t any mistakes in these Ls,” Ayton said. “We just got to break out of it and get back to our rhythm.”
The Suns continue their road trip against the Rockets in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday night.
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