Who: Phoenix Suns (15-18) @ Philadelphia 76ers (14-19)
When: 5:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Wells Fargo Center — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch: NBA TV, AZFamily, Suns Live
Listen: KMVP 98.7
So yeah, things are getting heated in the Valley. We don’t have Woj bombs anymore, but respected longtime journalist Chris Haynes had a big scoop last night; Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkić to the bench for tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with Ryan Dunn, and Mason Plumlee will take their place.
He also reported that “players are unsure of their roles and frustrated with how they are being used.” This is the first report with a strong indication that not only the team is struggling on the court, but inside the locker room there is tension as well.
This is also the first report of a starting lineup change in an attempt to resurrect their season. It feels long ago now, but at one point, the team was 8-1 and had the number 1 seed in the West; how far the team has fallen.
With the Sixers being a team that has had their own struggles this season, Phoenix will look to get their first win of 2025 in the second game of their three-game road trip.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Royce O’Neale — OUT (Ankle Sprain)
Sixers
- Joel Embiid — QUESTIONABLE (Foot Sprain and Sinus Fracture)
- Kyle Lowry — QUESTIONABLE (Hip Soreness)
- KJ Martin — OUT (Foot Stress Reaction)
- Jared McCain — OUT (Meniscus Surgery)
- Pete Nance — OUT (G League)
- Kelly Oubre Jr. — QUESTIONABLE (Hand Sprain)
Uniform Matchup
What to watch for
The Impact of the Starting Lineup Change
Yeah, he’s having a bad year, but Bradley Beal off the bench is one of the best bench scorers in the league. Playing alongside his former teammate when he was on the Washington Wizards Monté Morris, Beal is positioned to get good looks against inferior defenders relative to his skill.
Likely matching up with Andre Drummond on most possessions, Jusuf Nurkić will be going up against an opponent similar to him: a strong rebounder that struggles against athletic bigs.
With Dunn replacing Beal in the starting lineup, Phoenix is now more equipped to guard Philadelphia’s wings. If Dunn is able to defend at a high level, even if he continues to struggle with his shot (he’s shooting 30.2 percent from three), he can take the burden off of Durant and Booker on the defensive end.
Matching up against MVP Joel Embiid, Plumlee will have a tough assignment in his start tonight. However, just like Dunn, he’s a better defender than the person he is replacing in the starting group. If in any way he can at least make Embiid work for his offense, it would be another justification for the Suns’ to stay with their drastic change.
Key to a Suns win
Devin and Kevin, go be special
The Suns are stuck in the mud right now. While the starting lineup changes may help, what really helps the most in times of crisis, which the Suns are approaching, is great play from your best players. As crazy as it sounds, Phoenix actually isn’t that bad when both Booker and KD are in the lineup. The team boasts a 13-5 record when they both play.
While they’ve had a disappointing year filled with injuries and unexpected chaos, the Sixers are 10-5 since December 1. Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid are slowly starting to look like the elite big three many envisioned to start the year, and for Phoenix to stand their ground against them, they need their stars to play great.
Prediction
The lineup change brings more balance to the Valley’s squad and puts less pressure on the bench to generate offense with a capable scorer like Beal now leading it. Philly is just 5-9 at home this year and the level of urgency created by the lineup change will bring the Suns to a much-needed victory.
Suns 114, Sixers 108
