The Phoenix Suns (12-10) and Golden State Warriors (10-12) meet tonight in their third matchup of the season and second and final at Footprint Center. The Suns will finally get Bradley Beal back, as he has missed 19 total games this season with a low back strain. However, Phoenix will be without Kevin Durant (ankle) and Grayson Allen (groin) as the team looks to get back in the W column after dropping four of their last five. As for the Warriors, this season has also been a struggle from them early, but they will be getting Chris Paul (illness) back for tonight. Paul will look to have a better return to Phoenix after getting ejected in the last matchup between the teams.
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Start Time: 8 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: TNT
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream: Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 12, 2023
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -1.5
O/U: 231.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) OUT | Grayson Allen (right groin strain) OUT | Nassir Little (concussion protocol) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Golden State Warriors: Gary Payton (right calf strain) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Josh Okogie, Chimezie Metu, Jusuf Nurkić
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Last Time Out
The Phoenix Suns dropped the fourth of their last five games and fell to 12-10 on the year with a 114-106 to the Sacramento Kings Friday night. Without Kevin Durant (ankle), Bradley Beal (back) and Grayson Allen (groin), Phoenix got off to a really hot start with an 11-2 run, then it was very back and forth the rest of the first half until the Suns closed it on a 12-3 run. Then, the Kings outscored Phoenix 33-12 in the third quarter as the Suns shot 28% and 0-for-8 from three. Phoenix made a valiant effort with some big threes in the fourth, but De’Aaron Fox’s 23 fourth quarter points carried the Kings to the victory. Devin Booker finished the night with 28 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds, while Eric Gordon added 19 and Jusuf Nurkic had 15 and 9 boards.
The Golden State Warriors fell to 10-12 Friday night with a 138-136 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Stephen Curry finished with 34 points, including 10 in overtime. Jonathan Kuminga scored 24 points and had 12 rebounds off the bench. Klay Thompson tacked on 22 points of his own, while Draymond Green had 12 points and 13 assists. This was an extra sloppy game for Golden State, as it turned the ball over a remarkable 29 times. However, they massively outrebounded the Thunder 60-39 and held Oklahoma City to 5-of-29 (17%) shooting from three, but just couldn’t come away with the victory in the end in what ended up being a thriller between the two teams.
Flashback: Last Meeting (Nov. 22, 2023)
Phoenix Suns extend win streak to five games, defeat Warriors 123-115
In a game that did not lack drama, the Phoenix #Suns (9-6) pulled out a 123-115 victory over the Golden State #Warriors (7-9). Our @Brendan_Mau explains just how wild Chris Paul’s return to the Valley was. #ComingInHot #DubNation pic.twitter.com/jRATkPQgSx
— Burn City Suns Talk 🎙️ (@BurnCitySuns) November 23, 2023
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Warriors before their third matchup of the season (via Suns)
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Get Beal going early
- Who will guard Steph Curry?
- Rebounding
- Give Devin Booker more room to operate
- Don’t allow their bench to outplay the Suns’ starters again
Preview: Bradley Beal is Back
Bradley Beal Speaks on Being Available to Return from Injury
Multiple Reports: Bradley Beal Targeting a Return for Next Suns’ Game
Devin Booker is excited for the world to see the Suns with Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal coins a unique nickname for the Suns’ big three
Preview: Kevin Durant OUT, Injury Updates
Phoenix Suns Injury Updates: Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and More for Tomorrow vs. Warriors
Preview: Devin Booker Not Worried about Suns’ Recent Struggles
WATCH: Suns’ Practice Interviews and Footage from Last Two Days
Phoenix Suns Practice Footage 12-11-23: Kevin Durant, Bol Bol, Bradley Beal, More
Frank Vogel Practice Update before Suns (12-10) Take on Warriors (10-12) Tomorrow Night at Home
Bradley Beal Speaks on Being Available to Return from Injury
Phoenix Suns Practice Footage 12-10-23: Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Yuta Watanabe, Grayson Allen
Devin Booker Hoping Phoenix Suns Can Fix Recent Struggles with Good News on the Horizon
Frank Vogel Talks Phoenix Suns Injury Updates, Difficulties of Losing Four out of Five Games
Chimezie Metu Discusses Staying Ready, Making Most of His Opportunity as of Late for Struggling Suns
Best Bets
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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
