Tip-Off: 8 PM CT

Location: Talking Stick Resort Arena (Phoenix, AZ)

Television: FSOK

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game

 

The Thunder has won four of the last five games, but as is typically the case, stats do not tell the whole story. Oklahoma City has looked about as bad as a team can look and still pick up wins, and they need to change that tonight as they take on the Suns in Phoenix. Last time the Thunder was in Phoenix, it did not end well. The Suns blew out Oklahoma City 114-100 as the Thunder could not get stops when they were needed.

Since that first matchup, the Suns have gone 3-18. Phoenix currently sits at 14th in the Western Conference with one of the worst records in the league at 19-44. Tonight could be considered a must win for the Thunder, as the final 17 games of the season for Oklahoma City include matchups with 14 teams that are either in a playoff spot or fighting for one.

Projected Starters

Thunder

• PG: Russell Westbrook
• SG: Josh Huestis
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Carmelo Anthony
• C: Steven Adams

Suns

• PG: Elfrid Payton
• SG: Devin Booker
• SF: Josh Jackson
• PF: Dragan Bender
• C: Alex Len

Injuries

Thunder

• Andre Roberson (rupture left patellar tendon) is OUT.

Suns

• Tyson Chandler (neck spasms) is QUESTIONABLE.
• T.J. Warren (ischial tuberosity contusion) is QUESTIONABLE.
• Brandon Knight (left ACL tear) is OUT.
• Alan Williams (right meniscus repair) is OUT.

Head-to-Head

• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 21-12 against the Suns (13-4 at home, 8-8 on the road).
• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Suns six times, tied once, and lost twice.
• The Thunder split the season series with the Suns 2-2 a year ago.
• Oklahoma City has lost the last three consecutive matchups with Phoenix.
• This is the second of three matchups this season between the Thunder and the Suns. The teams play again next Thursday in Oklahoma City.
• Russell Westbrook recorded a career-high 22 assists against the Suns last season on December 17, 2016, in Oklahoma City.
• T.J. Warren recorded a season-high 16 rebounds against the Thunder last season on April 7, 2017.
• Dragan Bender recorded a career-high six made three-pointers in a career-high 39 minutes against the Thunder on January 7, 2018.

Game Notes

• Oklahoma City is on a two-game win streak, while Phoenix just ended a 10-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
• Oklahoma City is 6-4 in the last 10 games, while Phoenix is 1-9.
• Oklahoma City is 15-17 on the road, while Phoenix is 9-23 at home.
• Oklahoma City is 20-18 against the Western Conference, while Phoenix is 13-28.
• Oklahoma City is 20-18 coming off one day of rest, while Phoenix is 10-25 in the same situation.

See more

Notable rankings for the @Suns:

FG%: 28th
3P%: 30th
APG: 29th
TO: 27th
PF: 29th
+/-: 30th
Opp. PPG: 30th
Opp. RPG: 28th
Opp. FTA: 28th

A lot of potential areas to exploit a clearly lesser team. No time to mess around tonight.#ThunderUp

— Zack Low (@ZacharyLowNBA) March 2, 2018

Be sure to check out this week’s episode of Thunder Things with the Thunder Guys.

Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook.