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Pregame notes: Suns wrap up back-to-back against Cam Johnson, Nets

Jan 31, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) brings the ball up court against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Here is what we are seeing at Footprint Center before the Phoenix Suns take on the Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m. MST:

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Injury report

  • Both Kevin Durant (Left Calf Strain) and Bradley Beal (Left Calf Strain) are both available and will play for the Suns. Collin Gillespie (Right Ankle Sprain) remains out.
  • Cam Johnson (Right Ankle Sprain) is available and Dorian Finney-Smith (Left Ankle Sprain) is questionable for the Nets. Bojan Bogdanovic (Left Foot Injury Recovery), Nic Claxton (Lower Back Injury Management), Noah Clowney (Left Ankle Sprain), Day’Ron Sharpe (Left Hamstring Strain) and Cam Thomas (Left Hamstring Strain) are all out.

Pregame quotes

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer:

On facing the Nets: “I think these guys have impressed the whole league, impressed us. No matter who plays, they bring competitiveness and edge. They play hard on both ends of the court. Defensively, they will disrupt, they get up into you. Offensively, picking up a lot of threes, but they’re driving, they’re attacking. They look like they’re just a team that’s in a good place on both sides of the ball.

On how he managed to use Durant and Beal vs. the Lakers: “I think they both were very good. Brad made some plays on both ends of the court. His athleticism really helped us last night. So, it felt like, through the eye and a little bit on film he looked good. In that last stretch, I probably kept him out for a little bit longer. He was in a good rhythm and then didn’t have to bring them back. So, his [Beal] minutes were in a good place. Kevin’s minutes were in a good place. So, we’re hopeful, we’re expecting Kevin to play. I think we’re hopeful Bradley will as well.

Nets coach Jordi Fernández:

On how former Sun Johnson has impacted his team this season: “He is a fan favorite for us too. He has been great. He is a leader by example. Great personality. Comes and does his job. He does the most important thing, and he is a really good basketball player. He is not struggling with shooting and giving the ball and making the right plays defensively. He is doing everything that we have asked him to do. Ball pressure and his conditioning is great. He fights. He is all about the right things and we will try to continue that going forward. I am very happy to have him with us.”

On the absence of Thomas: We are missing a lot of effectiveness. He was shooting the basketball great. With that being said, those shots have to be taken by someone else. 17 to 18 shots that he shoots are going to be there. That’s the thing about the NBA. Games keep coming and now it’s your opportunity and you can see someone else stepping up. We have seen it so far in different ways. Guys like Cam Johnson, Jalen (Wilson), Dennis Schröder, all of those guys. I am excited to figure out who is going to be the guy tonight. Try and move the guys around and get them to the right spots.”

Starting lineups

 

Pregame media

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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini

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