Tip-Off: 8 PM CT
Location: Talking Stick Resort Arena (Phoenix, Arizona)
Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder (29-20) continued their hot streak as they matched a franchise-record 6 consecutive road wins on Wednesday with a 120-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings (18-30).
Tonight, the Thunder takes on the Phoenix Suns (20-27), who are coming off perhaps their most impressive win of the season, a 133-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks (29-18).
The Thunder defeated the Suns 126-108 in Oklahoma City on December 20th. Since then, OKC has won 15 of 21 games, while Phoenix has won just 9 of 19. However, the Suns have won 6 of their last 10, which is tied for their best 10-game stretch of the season.
The Suns are a lot like the Thunder in that they like to share the ball, and a lot of guys can score. OKC has 5 guys that average double-digit points, and Phoenix has 6 that are putting up at least 11 points per game. Of those 6 for the Suns, however, 2 are injured and will not be playing tonight.
Devin Booker is the star in Phoenix. He was left out of the All-Star Game as the Western Conference reserves were announced last night, which means he could come out tonight with something to prove. The Thunder needs to put a defensive focus on him, because if he gets it going, the Suns could have a chance to get the upset tonight.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Danilo Gallinari
- C: Steven Adams
Suns
- PG: Ricky Rubio
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Kelly Oubre Jr.
- PF: Mikal Bridges
- C: Deandre Ayton
Injuries
Thunder
- Terrance Ferguson (personal reasons) is OUT.
- Kevin Hervey (G League; two-way) is OUT.
- Andre Roberson (return to play management) is OUT.
Suns
- Aaron Baynes (left hip soreness) is OUT.
- Jared Harper (G League; two-way) is OUT.
- Cameron Johnson (right quad contusion) is OUT.
- Frank Kaminsky (right patellar stress fracture) is OUT.
- Jalen Lecque (G League; on assignment) is OUT.
- Tariq Owens (G League; two-way) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 28-12 against the Suns (17-4 at home, 11-8 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Suns 8 times, tied once, and lost twice.
- The Thunder won the season series with the Suns 4-0 a year ago (2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 3 consecutive matchups with the Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
Game Notes
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