The Phoenix Suns (41-29, 7th in Western Conference) begin a five-game road trip tonight at the San Antonio Spurs (15-55, 15th in Western Conference) tonight with only 12 games remaining in the season. This will be the first of two straight meetings between the teams, as they play Monday as well.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This is another game that should be winnable for Phoenix, as its last 10 games are a brutal part of the schedule, so it will be important to take care of business tonight and Monday.
Josh Okogie is expected to return for the Suns tonight after missing the last 10 games due to injury. Jusuf Nurkić (orbital contusion) is probable.
The Spurs only have 15 wins this season, but two of those are against the Suns. These two teams played back-to-back games against each other in Phoenix way back on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2. In the last meeting, San Antonio won 132-121 as Victor Wembanyama has his first breakout game with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. This is still his career high in points. Devin Booker nearly had a triple double with 31 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds in the loss.
The Suns have won two straight entering tonight, last defeating the Atlanta Hawks 128-115 Thursday. Phoenix was led by 30 points from Booker, as the Suns set a season high with 22 made 3-pointers. The Suns also had terrific bench production in this contest (47 points combined) led by Eric Gordon (21 points) and Royce O’Neale (14 points).
This is the second night of a back-to-back for the Spurs, as San Antonio fell 99-97 to the Memphis Grizzlies last night on a Jaren Jackson Jr. game-winning shot. This was San Antonio’s fifth loss in six games. Wembanyama had 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Spurs.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. MST
Location: Frost Bank Center
TV Channel: AZ Family/ 3TV
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 23, 2024
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -10.5
O/U:Â 232.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Jusuf Nurkić (orbital contusion) PROBABLE | Josh Okogie (lower abdominal strain) QUESTIONABLE | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
San Antonio Spurs:Â Charles Bassey (left ACL tear) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
San Antonio Spurs:Â Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Guarding the 3-point line
- Limiting turnovers
- Not overlooking opponent
- Aggressive defense (forcing turnovers)
- Riding momentum
Prediction
Suns 121 – Spurs 103
As mentioned before, this is yet another game that Phoenix should win and it would be worrisome if it loses. The Suns can focus more so on what is hurting them: turnovers, 3-point defense and fourth quarter struggles, than what the Spurs are doing. That being said, really the only things to watch for in what San Antonio does is its assist totals (are second in the NBA) and of course how Wembanyama plays. The Suns should win this game handedly and keep up their great ball movement and 3-point struggles. They need to find a clear identity for what this team can be best at by the end of the season, and 3-point shooting could easily be that because of the gravity of the Big 3.
The Suns just can’t overthink this game and need to win it to move up/ hold their place in the standings.
Last Meeting (Nov. 2, 2023)
Team Matchup Notes
Everything to know about the Spurs and Suns before their third meeting this season:
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Preview: Injury report
Preview: What the Phoenix Suns said about Victor Wembanyama last game
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
