The Phoenix Suns (13-10) and Brooklyn Nets (12-10) meet tonight for the first time this season in a game full of storylines. After 23 games of not sharing the court one time together, the Suns will finally play all three of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant together. Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson return to the Valley for the first time since being traded for Kevin Durant in February. Durant also squares off against his former team. However, Phoenix will be without Josh Okogie (right hip) and Grayson Allen (groin) to see their full arsenal of weapons. This game is the second night of a back-to-back for the Suns after defeating the Warriors last night. The Nets had a streak of six wins in seven days snapped to the Sacramento Kings Monday night.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Local Game Information
Start Time: 7 p.m. MST
Location:Â Footprint Center
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 13, 2023
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -1.5
O/U:Â 231.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) AVAILABLE | Eric Gordon (calf strain) OUT |Â Josh Okogie (right hip injury) OUT |Â Grayson Allen (right groin strain) OUT | Nassir Little (concussion protocol) AVAILABLE | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Brooklyn Nets:Â Ben Simmons (left lower back nerve impingement) OUT | Dennis Smith Jr. (upper back strain) OUT | Lonnie Walker IV (left hamstring strain) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Chimezie Metu, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Brooklyn Nets:Â Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton
Last Time Out
In Bradley Beal’s first game back in exactly a month, the Phoenix Suns (13-10) narrowly escaped with a 119-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors (10-13) after nearly coughing up a big lead late in the fourth. This game saw some drama-filled action, highlighted by the ejection of Draymond Green after he slapped Jusuf Nurkić across the face. It was Devin Booker who once again carried the Suns with some huge shots down the stretch. Booker ended with 32 points, seven assists and four rebounds and was a +15 in 36 minutes. Nurkić finished the night with 17 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes. Beal had 16 in his return, while Chimezie Metu got his first start of the season and finished with 14 points and was a team-high +28 in his minutes. Jordan Goodwin added 16 points, six assistss and five rebounds off the bench
The Brooklyn Nets fell to 12-10 Monday night with a 131-118 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Mikal Bridges led Brooklyn with 22 points, five assists and five rebounds. The Nets allowed the Kings to break a franchise record, as Sacramento cashed in on 25 three-pointers. The Kings were pretty much in control the entire way after allowing only 18 points to the Nets in the first quarter. Cam Thomas added in 20 points, while Spencer Dinwiddie had 16 points and eight assists.
Flashback: Last Meeting (Feb. 7, 2023)
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Nets before their first matchup of the season (via Suns)
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Don’t overcomplicate things with Big 3 on floor
- Who will step up defensively without Okogie and Allen?
- Don’t get caught up in emotions
- Rebounding
- Figuring out a good rotation around Big 3
Preview: Big 3 Debut
Preview: Frank Vogel Pregame Updates
Frank Vogel Provides a Ton of Updates Before Tonight’s Game vs. Nets
Preview: Mikal Bridges Back in Valley
Preview: Suns’ Other Injuries
Suns Will Be Missing Key Role Players in Tonight’s Expected Big 3 Debut
WATCH: Video Recap/ Suns’ Postgame Press Conferences from Last Night’s Win
Video Recap: Suns Defeat Warriors 119-116 in Drama-Filled Game
Jusuf Nurkić, Devin Booker React to Draymond Green Ejection, Suns’ 119-116 Victory over Warriors
Frank Vogel Not Happy with Suns’ 4Q Struggles Despite 119-116 Victory over Warriors
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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
