Suns' fourth-quarter woes are ruining their season

The Suns score a league-worst 21.8 points in the fourth quarter, with an offensive rating of 89 points per 100 possessions. In the first three quarters, they average 30 points, and their overall offensive rating is 112. Their defense isn't amazing, with a 114.3 rating, but that's not as much worse than their overall rating of 111.1.

Why are they struggling? Part of it is that the team doesn't have a true point guard, and their ostensible point guard is Devin Booker, who has played only two games this season. With Kevin Durant and Eric Gordon, not to mention Grayson Allen, who is shooting over 48 percent from three-point range, the Suns have a lot of offensive talent. The problem comes in executing down the stretch.

Gordon and Allen have covered most of the point guard minutes, and neither one is particularly known for their assists. Sunday was a low point, as Phoenix shot 2-of-21 in the fourth quarter while Oklahoma City outscored them 31-13 in a 111-99 Thunder victory.

But head coach Frank Vogel wasn't worried, explaining away the struggling offensive performance as "Shots just didn't fall."

Booker is reportedly ready to return on Wednesday, but Bradley Beal retweaked his back just three games after returning from the same injury.

Perhaps the Suns need their "Big Three" back, but until then, they need to figure out why they've only been coming up big for three quarters.