Showing posts with label phoenix suns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phoenix suns. Show all posts


Suns Unveil Critical Starting Five for Crucial Match Against Thunder

PHOENIX -- It's now a win-or-bust situation for the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns might face elimination before their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder starts if the Dallas Mavericks manage to win, but all Phoenix can do at this point is focus on controlling the situation directly ahead of them.

Oklahoma City has sidelined four crucial players, among them the probable 2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; however, this does not guarantee an easy win for the Suns tonight.

Kevin Durant continues to sit out due to a seemingly severe ankle sprain he sustained on March 30, and Nick Richards has also been declared unavailable for selection.

Once again, Phoenix head coach Mike Budenholzer found himself making several crucial choices for the starting lineup as he continued to test out different combinations over the past couple of months because of various issues.

In the end, Budenholzer chose to stick with the lineup that started last night’s game against the Golden State Warriors but made a minor adjustment.

  • Bradley Beal
  • Devin Booker
  • Grayson Allen
  • Ryan Dunn
  • Oso Ighodaro

Beal is back with the starting unit for the third straight game following his absence of almost three weeks because of a hamstring injury.

Booker has been a standout performer for Phoenix during their losing streak—though he may not make the cut for a third All-NBA team, the conclusion of this season could reignite optimism that better days lie ahead.

Allen steps in for Royce O'Neale, who has been struggling with his shot over the past couple of games. Bringing in Allen seems like a final attempt to generate some traction before the season concludes.

Dunn and Ighodaro are each concluding their impressive rookie campaigns; they've both demonstrated themselves to be key long-term assets and have exhibited noticeable improvement throughout the season.

The Suns-Thunder game is scheduled to begin shortly after 7 P.M. local time in Arizona tonight.

The article was initially published here www.si.com/nba/suns as Suns Unveil Starting Five Against Thunder in Crucial Match-Up .



OKC Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns: Key Player Availability Update

Oklahoma City heads out for its last away game of the season. This three-game series involves only Western Conference teams at the lower end of the standings, each having faced various issues derailing their campaigns this year.

The Thunder are playing in the Valley against the Suns, both teams facing their second game within two nights. Oklahoma City secured an emotionally charged victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, whereas the Suns lost to the Golden State Warriors just 24 hours prior.

OKC has secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and needs just one more victory out of their upcoming three games to claim the best overall record in the NBA. Achieving this would ensure they have home-court advantage all the way through the NBA Finals, provided they advance that far.

Tonight’s match features relatively lower importance for the standings, so the Thunder are giving some of their rotation players a break. However, the team will still have its exciting pair from the 2022 NBA Draft—Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren—as well as experienced player Alex Caruso, who continue to be available. Notably, the injury list remains free of familiar names this evening.

The Suns currently list just two players, yet both hold significant importance for Phoenix. Kevin Durant continues to sit out due to being ineligible for postseason honors, and Nick Richards will also be watching from the sidelines dressed in street clothes.

NBA Injury Report

Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Update

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander –— Shin: NOT PLAYING

Lu Dort –– Patellofemoral Injury Management: OUT

Cason Wallace –– Shoulder: INJURED

Isaiah Hartenstein –– Achilles: NOT AVAILABLE

Ousmane Dieng –- Status for calf: OUT

Alex Ducas –– Quad: OUT

Ajay Mitchell –— Toe: EXITE

Nikola Topic –– ACL: INJURY

Phoenix Suns Injury Report

Kevin Durant –– Ankle: Will Not Play

Nick Richards Elbow: OUT

Following their current match, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a rest day prior to traveling to Salt Lake City for a matchup against the Utah Jazz on Friday evening. This contest marks the penultimate game of the regular season, after which the OKC Thunder will get one week off before diving into the NBA Playoffs. The opening round of playoffs for OKC is set for April 20 at the Paycom Center.

The article was initially posted on www.si.com/nba/thunder as Oklahoma City Thunder versus Phoenix Suns Injury Update .