Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: FSOK
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up a win in Phoenix just six days ago, but since, things have not gone well for the hometown team. The Thunder lost in Portland the following night, and then despite their best efforts, they were unable to hold off the Houston Rockets in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
The Thunder has a fairly intense schedule to finish the season, facing playoff-potential teams in 12 of the remaining 16 games. The other four, however, come against some of the league’s worst teams, including tonight’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns have won just one game in their last 14 tries, and at 19-47 on the season, they are just barely out of dead last in the Western Conference. Statistically speaking, the Thunder is the vastly superior team, but for whatever reason, Oklahoma City has struggled against lesser opponents all season long. In last Friday’s matchup with the Suns, the Thunder trailed for much of the game before finally pulling out the win.
Oklahoma City desperately needs wins of any sort right now, and they can do themselves a favor by starting off tonight’s game strong, finishing well, and coming up with a big win to not only help their playoff push but boost some morale in the process.
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: T.J. Warren
- PF: Dragan Bender
- C: Tyson Chandler
Injuries
Thunder
- Andre Roberson (rupture left patellar tendon) is OUT.
Suns
- 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 22-12 against the Suns (13-4 at home, 9-8 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 is 1-1 against Phoenix so far this season (0-0 at home, 1-1 on the road). This is the final matchup of the season between the Thunder and the Suns.
- 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 has lost two games in a row, while Phoenix has lost three in a row.
- Oklahoma City is 6-4 in the last 10 games, while Phoenix is 1-9.
- Oklahoma City is 21-11 at home, while Phoenix is 10-23 on the road.
- Oklahoma City is 21-20 against the Western Conference, while Phoenix is 13-29.
- Oklahoma City is 21-18 coming off one day of rest, while Phoenix is 5-7 coming off two days of rest.
- The Thunder is currently seventh in the Western Conference, only 2.5 games back of third, but only 1.5 games ahead of the teams in eighth through tenth.
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.