Who: Phoenix Suns (15-15) vs. Golden State Warriors (15-15)
When: 6:30 pm Arizona Time
Where: Chase Center — San Francisco, California
Watch: NBA TV, AZFamily, Suns Live
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Christmas Day’s defeat of the Denver Nuggets was an awesome victory for a Phoenix Suns team struggling to defend and play a consistent brand of basketball for 48 minutes. With the Valley, you can never say they are turning a corner, but the win contrasts their recent play.
Two nights later, the defense and effort were there, but that playing consistently for 48 minutes thing wasn’t, which is why the Valley lost to the Dallas Mavericks last night, who were without Luka Dončić 98-89. In the first, third, and fourth quarters, the Suns scored 25 points, but they scored just 14 in the second, which ended up being the main difference in the outcome.
Tonight, the Suns will head to San Francisco to face a Golden State Warriors team that has been struggling as much as the Suns of late, also losers of four of their last five. Because they rested Stephen Curry and Draymond Green against the Clippers yesterday, the Warriors will have the rest advantage in the contest.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Concussion Protocol)
- Bol Bol — OUT (Left Knee Contusion)
- Devin Booker — OUT (Left Groin Soreness)
- Collin Gillespie — OUT (Right Ankle Fracture)
- Jusuf Nurkić — POSSIBLY SUSPENDED (Got in a fight yesterday)
Warriors
- Draymond Green — PROBABLE (Back)
- Stephen Curry — PROBABLE (Knee)
- Gary Payton II — OUT (Calf)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Um, is Jusuf Nurkić getting suspended for last night’s brawl?
Yesterday the Bosnian Beast got in a full out brawl with the Mavs’ Naji Marshall and PJ Washington, resulting in all three of them getting ejected.
Obviously an intense scene to say the least. At the time of writing this, no one has been suspended as of YET, but be on the lookout for a suspension report. If he’s out, the Suns likely will go with veteran Mason Plumlee to start, who provides a stronger defensive presence, but is a weaker rebounder.
How do both team’s offenses play tonight?
The Suns have scored 90 points or less in two of their last three games. As was on display last night where they shot 37% from the field in his absence, Golden State’s offense has struggled outside of Stephen Curry. Most of Phoenix’s problems this year have been on the defensive side, so it is an area that the Warriors must exploit to win.
With Devin Booker out again, Bradley Beal needs to have a strong game to help Kevin Durant with the offensive load. Yesterday, Beal had just 11 points on 5/18 shooting from the field.
Key to a Suns Win
Effort and making people’s lives outside of Curry difficult
Last night, the effort from the Suns was mostly there, they just could not make shots. The Warriors, whether they win or lose, play with effort. They lack consistent shooters outside of Curry, but head coach Steve Kerr makes sure his guys are playing hard on defense. The Warriors are eighth in steals per game this season with nine a game.
As previously stated, the Dubs do not have a consistent offensive scorer outside of Curry. Some nights Andrew Wiggins is that guy, maybe Buddy Hield goes on a heater, maybe Jonathan Kuminga packs that punch; it’s an inconsistent group. There is no stopping Curry, but there is stopping his crew this year. If Phoenix can make Curry single handedly beat them, they’ll be in good shape.
Even though the offense has been struggling of late, we have empirical evidence to show the Suns are likely fine on that end. Defense always will be more of a concern with this team than offense.
Prediction
The Suns are all over the place right now, but so are the Warriors. I think the fact that both Curry and Green are rested give the Warriors the advantage, and that is reflected in the current betting odds for the game, where the Warriors are 6.5 point favorites on BetMGM. Give me Golden State by 7.
Warriors 111, Suns 104
