MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – The Memphis Grizzlies are quick learners.

Even with little NBA playoff experience, they know when they’re being blown out or have a chance to win. So they feel very confident going into Friday night’s Game 3 with the Phoenix Suns despite trailing 2-0 in the first-round, best-of-seven series.

“We haven’t played as well as we possibly can play, and that’s the encouraging part,” Grizzlies forward Shane Battier said Thursday. “We all feel we can play a little better, especially in the fourth quarter. That’s what it comes down to. We were right there. We didn’t execute in the last five minutes of the fourth. They did, and that was the difference.”

The Grizzlies watched the Suns close out a 108-103 victory Wednesday night with a 14-4 run, including nine straight points. Pau Gasol, who had a playoff-best 28 points and 16 rebounds, missed two key free throws in that stretch, and Jason Williams went scoreless in the fourth quarter despite a playoff-high 21 points.

Still, it’s a big difference from this time last year when the Grizzlies were making their first playoff appearance. The San Antonio Spurs blew them out from the opening tip and swept the Grizzlies in four games. Battier said the Grizzlies knew after returning to Memphis trailing 2-0 that they were in over their heads against the Spurs.

Not so against Phoenix, even though the Suns had the NBA’s best record (62-20) and are the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed. The Grizzlies slowed down the Suns just enough by getting up close and physical, limiting them to five 3-pointers after a franchise-record 15 3s in Game 1. “It could be 1-1 at this point,” Battier said.

Suns guard Steve Nash agrees. “It was their game; they kind of, with a few minutes left, were in a perfect position to beat us. They played a perfect game and then missed some free throws. But we also made some great plays down the stretch,” Nash said.

The Grizzlies expect an emotional boost from their fans after selling out a team-record 18 games in their new FedExForum and going 26-15 at home this season.

“The last playoff series against San Antonio, our crowd was amazing, and we expect that again,” Memphis guard Earl Watson said. “Our crowd will carry us through.”

The road wasn’t a problem for Phoenix in the regular season, with the Suns becoming only the sixth NBA team to win at least 31 games at home and on the road, and the first since the 1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers.

“I just feel like we’re confident on the road and focused. We don’t fear the road, that’s for sure. We feel comfortable out there,” Nash said.

Memphis also knows no team has ever trailed 3-0 and won a best-of-seven series.

The Suns’ 2-0 advantage is only the eighth in 44 playoff series in franchise history, and they have won five of seven when jumping out to such an edge. But the last time Phoenix was up 2-0, the Suns lost the Western Conference semifinals to Houston in 1995.

Suns center Amare Stoudemire, coming off a career playoff-best 34 points, said they expect the Grizzlies to turn up the intensity and play even more physical.

“We’ve got to come out with the same intensity, play a little harder on defense and we should be OK,” Stoudemire said. “They’ve been doing a lot of dirty things out there as far as fouls, holding, grabbing, whatever. But it is the playoffs and we do respect that.”

Memphis center Lorenzen Wright pointed out the Suns shot 40 free throws in Game 2, 21 more than the Grizzlies.

“I wouldn’t be bellyaching about anything if I’m shooting that many free throws,” Wright said.

AP-ES-04-28-05 2027EDT