The Phoenix Suns (37-27, 6th in Western Conference) begin a four-game road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-23, 3rd in Eastern Conference) tonight in the teams’ first meeting this season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) is probable for Phoenix after missing the last four games. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell (left knee bone bruise) and Evan Mobley (right ankle sprain) remain out for Cleveland, among four others.
The Suns had a two-game winning streak snapped Saturday night with a 117-107 loss to the NBA’s best, the Boston Celtics. Without Booker, Kevin Durant dropped a season-high 45 points on 18-of-26 shooting, but his effort was not enough as everyone outside of Bradley Beal, Bol Bol and Jusuf Nurkić struggled mightily for Phoenix.
Tonight will be the second game of a back-to-back for Cleveland after the injury-riddled Cavs fell 120-101 to the Nets last night. George Niang, who started only his third game this season, had a team-high 20 points in the loss.
These two teams have not played each other in over a year, since Jan. 8, 2023. The Suns and Cavs met two times this week with Cleveland winning both games, as Booker was sidelined due to injury.
Now, the Cavaliers will be the banged-up team without Mitchell, but the Suns still have four players ruled out.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 4:30 p.m. MST
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
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) March 11, 2024
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -6.5
O/U:Â 220.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) PROBABLE | Eric Gordon (left knee contusion) OUT | Josh Okogie (lower abdominal strain) OUT | Nassir Little (left knee inflammation) OUT |Â Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell (left knee bone bruise) OUT | Evan Mobley (right ankle sprain) OUT | Max Strus (right knee sprain) OUT | Dean Wade (personal reasons) OUT | Ty Jerome (right ankle surgery) OUT | Tristan Thompson (league suspension) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Cleveland Cavaliers:Â Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Georges Niang, Jarrett Allen
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Not overlooking opponent
- Making 3-pointers
- Playing team basketball
- Crashing the glass
- Forcing turnovers
Prediction
Suns 118 – Cavaliers 102
There is no reason the Suns shouldn’t win this game with how banged up Cleveland is. Devin Booker will look to have a big game in what is likely to be his first game back. The Cavs are third in the league in defensive rating, so this probably won’t be as easy of a game as some think, but the Suns should pull this one out regardless.
Last Meeting (Jan. 8, 2023)
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Cavaliers before their first matchup of the season (via Suns):
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Preview: Injury report
Devin Booker upgraded on injury report for tomorrow’s game at Cavaliers
Listen: Thinking through the Suns’ rotation
Burn City Suns Talk Podcast: Thoughts on current Phoenix Suns rotation
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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
