Who: Phoenix Suns (31–20) vs. Golden State Warriors (27-24)
When: 8:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, Prime
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The NBA Trade Deadline has finally wrapped up. It was fireworks for the rest of the league while Phoenix stayed under the radar.
The Suns got under the tax apron and picked up a useful rotation piece or two (depending on if they keep Anthony) in Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony. The Suns shipped out Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis to Milwaukee.
I am a believer in Coffey becoming a useful depth piece, but Anthony enters a deep guard rotation.
The Warriors, meanwhile, made a significant move last night, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for big man Kristaps Porzingis.
It’s another late tipoff tonight — 8 pm local time here in Arizona. Phoenix is 17-7 at home and has won 4 of its last 5 contests. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the teams, with Golden State leading the season series 2-1.
- Devin Booker — OUT (Right Ankle Sprain)
- Jalen Green — OUT (Right Hamstring Management/Left Hip Contusion)
- Stephen Curry — OUT (Knee)
- Seth Curry — OUT (Back)
- De’Anthony Melton — QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
- Jimmy Butler — OUT (ACL)
The Warriors enter this one on a two-game skid after losses to the Pistons and 76ers on their home floor. They lost Jimmy Butler for the season, and Steph Curry is out, not to mention Hield and Kuminga, who they just shipped out for Porzingis.
We will get a shorthanded Warriors team that will play freely and, despite the lack of firepower or household names, should not be taken lightly.
The “Uncs” (Draymond and Horford) will bring that veteran presence and keep the young guys in check. In their latest contest against the 76ers, they had eight players score 8 points or more, so expect a balanced attack from guys looking to prove themselves in an increased role. Moses Moody will likely be the Warriors’ top scoring option tonight alongside the pesky Brandin Podziemski. Gui Santos is another name to watch, as he’s scored in double figures in four straight contests.
Dillon Brooks vs. Draymond Green is another subplot to watch, as these two have expressed how they feel about each other publicly on multiple occasions. A Draymond Green ejection IS on my bingo card tonight.
The Suns will be without Devin Booker for a 7th straight game, so again, it’s going to be about “the others”. Collin Gillespie will look to pick up where he left off in Portland, where he dropped a career-high 30 points while splashing in 8 threes. Jordan Goodwin will need to wreak havoc, and of course, buckets from Grayson and Dillon will be essential.
The main key for Phoenix will again come on the defensive side. Just because the Warriors are down several guys does not mean they can play like it and expect to win. Mark Williams is always an interesting play against teams like the Warriors, who go small and aim to punish “traditional” centers, so we could see plenty of Oso tonight depending on the game flow.
A bounce-back game from Dillon Brooks is needed after he struggled for 11 points on 3 of 17 shooting on Tuesday night. The Suns will look to kick off their four-game homestand with a win.
I think the Suns get it done at home against a shorthanded Warriors team. No such thing as an easy win in today’s NBA, so expect the Dubs to make Phoenix work for it.
