Report: Suns' Booker, Ayton 'exchanged words' following loss to Blazers

Frustration is mounting among key members of the 4-21 Phoenix Suns as losses pile up for the Association's worst team.

Following Thursday's 108-86 blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, leading scorer Devin Booker and No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton "exchanged words" in the locker room following the game, according to Arizona Central's Duane Rankin.

"I'm an emotional guy, too," said Ayton. "I start to feel stuff. When I don't sense it and the energy is not there, that's when you start to hear my mouth. I don't care who it is. Nineteen-year vet or 15 years, it don't matter. We all have a job to do and I have to step it up a little more, too."

Booker wasn't in uniform at the Moda Center, missing his second straight game with an injured hamstring. Ayton, meanwhile, contributed 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in 27 minutes of action in his first career appearance off the bench.

Thursday marked the second straight game the Suns failed to produce 10 or more points in the first quarter, making them the first team in the shot clock era to score in single digits in the opening frame in consecutive outings.

Phoenix's seven-game losing skid is one of the longest in the league, and the team is currently a full seven games back of the No. 14-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference entering Friday's action.