The Phoenix Suns (9-5) return home tonight for the second night of a back-to-back against the Orlando Magic (8-6) looking to snap a three-game losing skid.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Phoenix has really struggled without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal (both have left calf strains), who will be out once again tonight, last falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-117 on a last-second shot yesterday afternoon. Despite the loss, Phoenix finally found some rhythm and was knocking down shots the majority of the night until it got to crunch time.
The Magic have now played their last nine games without Paolo Banchero, who remains out with a torn right oblique, going 5-4 in those contests, but entering tonight on a five-game win streak in which they have an average margin of victory of 19 points. Orlando is only 1-6 on the road this season, however, and 7-0 at home.
Tonight’s game will be the first time the Suns wear their new City Edition uniforms.
Here are some keys to the game for the Suns to snap their losing streak and end the Magic’s win streak:
Take care of the ball
The Suns have played two-straight games against tough defenses and will now face another tonight. Phoenix, who had been doing a good job of taking care of the ball all season, ended with 21 turnovers against the Timberwolves and 17 against the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday.
The Magic force the sixth-most turnovers in the NBA at 16.1 per game. Phoenix will have to find a way to not get turnover-happy against Orlando’s stifling defense.
Generate and convert open looks
Phoenix did a great job creating a rhythm offensively for the first time without Durant and Beal against Minnesota. It will need to carry this over tonight against a Magic team that allows the second-fewest points per game in the NBA at 103.5.
Orlando also allows the second-fewest opponent assists per game at 23.4, so going back to the first key, it will be important to try to move the ball around for open looks but not turn it over.
Generating good shots around Devin Booker will be the most important part of this, as it will force the Magic not to double and triple team him all night. The Suns executed this well against Minnesota when Booker had a season-high 44 points.
Rebound, force turnovers and run
The Magic are last in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage (30.6%) and fifth worst in overall field goal percentage (44.0%). Orlando only averages 106.7 points per game (third-worst in NBA), so it won’t wow with its offense especially without Banchero.
With that said, the Suns need to continue to pressure them defensively to keep up these shooting numbers. The Magic have also had a turnover problem their last two games with 17 turnovers in each contest.
Turning defense into offense will be paramount tonight for the Suns so they don’t have to play in the halfcourt against arguably the top defense in the NBA and without two of their stars.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: AZ Family/3TV
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream: Suns Live
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 18, 2024
Betting Odds (DraftKings)
Line: ORL -4
O/U:Â 210
Injury Report
Suns: TBD, but know Kevin Durant (left calf strain), Bradley Beal (left calf strain) and Collin Gillespie (right ankle fracture) will be out
Magic:Â Paolo Banchero (torn right oblique) OUT | Wendell Carter Jr. (Plantar fasciitis in left foot) OUT | Mac McClung (G League) OUT | Trevelin Queen (G League) OUT
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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
