Paul Coro

The Arizona Republic

On Monday, the Suns fired Jeff Hornacek.

On Tuesday, Markieff Morris set season highs for points (30), rebounds (11) and assists (six).

The post-firing, pre-trade deadline timing and a switch-flipping turnaround in performance came off to many as a statement game for a player who had not found that form this season.

“Honestly, I don’t give a f--- how people look at it,” Morris said. “Like I said, Jeff was my guy from Day 1. Never had a problem with him even the so-said towel incident, never had a problem with him. Me and him always see eye to eye. We were just in a tough position.”

His twin, Marcus, backed up that sentiment in Detroit, telling mlive.com that he also supported Hornacek as a “great person, good coach” and that Suns managing partner Robert Sarver “should fire himself.”

“People going to make up anything,” Markieff said Wednesday. “I don’t recall me ever saying Jeff is my problem.”

He had not. But the Suns’ situation did get more difficult once Morris was suspended for tossing a towel behind him and at Hornacek as he walked away from an argument with the coach over being pulled from the game.

“For sure it was misperceived,” Morris said of the Dec. 23 towel incident that earned him a two-game suspension. “We go back and forth all the time. You go back and forth with players. Everything is high at the point we’re trying to figure it out.

“Nobody saw it, but I can see or look on TV and he says, ‘He threw a towel in a coach’s face.’ Like, where did he get that? Where did that come from? Guys just want to make you seem to be this type of person and make me seem to have a problem with Jeff: ‘Now that Jeff’s gone, I scored.’ That doesn’t have anything to do with it. I would say it just had something to do with coach (Watson) coming in and telling guys what it’s going to be and how it’s going to be.”

Bickley: Hot-mess Phoenix Suns need a better plan

The Suns were 12-18 before losing that home game to Denver and now are 14-36 after losing interim head coach Earl Watson’s debut at home to Toronto despite Morris’ second game of at least 20 points this season.

Watson has not overhauled the Suns offense from the changes Hornacek already made to account for the injury losses of Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Ronnie Price. Now with T.J. Warren out for a season-ending foot fracture, the Suns are missing their top three scorers to prompt Watson to turn to Morris for what he showed he can do Tuesday night.

Morris set up five of his teammates’ 3-pointers with his assists and took 20 shots, mixing up the repertoire more by using pump fakes to drive to the rim or getting a handful of post-up chances. He made 13 of 20 shots, missing his last two long jump shots when he said he felt the fatigue of a season-high 41 minutes. He entered the game with a career-worst 38.4 field goal percentage.

Boivin: Suns fire Jeff Hornacek, use him as scapegoat

Morris has missed 17 of the season’s 50 games for suspension, benching or health issues.

“I haven’t seen that version of him yet, but I didn’t really put any expectations on what he could be,” Watson said. “I just learned that he embraced the opportunity. What I love more than anything is coming back on defense, he was yelling at his teammates to get one stop with passion, clapping, leading, talking and being selfless on defense.”

Morris dunked three times, joking that he had not done that since the 90's. But it was proof that he has more spring than when he rim-blocked himself on Jan. 19 against Indiana and strained his right shoulder.

The matchups with Jonas Valanciunas and Luis Scola also were advantageous for Morris, who credited the confidence Watson instilled in him. Consistency will be a key to carry the Suns’ scoring until reinforcements come or until he attracts enough interest to make a trade offer more attractive to the Suns than any they have received so far.

“He is very talented,” Watson said. “I think he needs to be identified as our main player offensively. I think Devin Booker needs to be the secondary who can score like a main option. I just talked to Markieff and told him that I believe in him."

Phoenix Suns seek more effort, structure with Earl Watson

Free throws

There is a possibility that point guard Ronnie Price (toe surgery) returns to action next week while Brandon Knight (groin strain) is still likely to not play until after the Suns’ Feb. 11-18 All-Star break. Price has missed the past 12 games. Knight has missed the past seven games.

Watson on the Suns’ response to his work as interim head coach: “I think they believe. I know they believe because we believe. … Our focus is on getting better today, getting better tomorrow. Not winning or losing. Just build something to where we can win and lose and control that.”

With a career-high 12 assists Tuesday, 21-year-old Archie Goodwin became the youngest Suns player since 1983 to have a double-digit assist game.

Reach Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at www.twitter.com/paulcoro.

Thursday’s game

Rockets at Suns

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV/radio: FSAZ Plus/KMVP-FM (98.7).

Rockets update: Houston (26-25) is in the seventh place in the Western Conference after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 115-102 win Tuesday against Miami without three big men – injured Clint Capela and Montrezl Harrell and suspended Dwight Howard. James Harden had 26 points and 14 assists in the game and is averaging 27.9 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals this season without missing a game. Since being traded to Houston, sixth man Josh Smith is averaging 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game with 38 percent shooting. Houston leads the NBA in steals (9.8 per game) but allows the fourth-highest opponent field goal percentage (46.7).