Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder is not even a full day removed from the worst home-loss in NBA history: a 57-point trouncing by the Indiana Pacers, and it only gets worse for the Thunder tonight when they host the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder has officially been eliminated from the playoffs since earlier this week, but the Suns have clinched a playoff spots and are just a half game back from the Utah Jazz for the best record in the Western Conference and the league, for that matter.
Chris Paul has been the key to success in Phoenix this season. The Suns have built a solid young core for the last few years, and now they are headed for the postseason for the first time since 2010 when they lost 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals to the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Thunder fans know all too well about the leadership qualities that Chris Paul brings to the table, and I for one am happy that he’s continuing to find success, even in the latter stages of his career.
The 2020-21 NBA regular season is nearly complete, and it sure has been a wild one. Thunder fans have experienced a series of ups and downs, and while it seems like it’s been nothing but down for the last month, the end is near, and we can move on to the next stage of the rebuild: the 2021 NBA Draft.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Théo Maledon
- SG: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Darius Bazley
- PF: Isaiah Roby
- C: Moses Brown
Suns
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Torrey Craig
- PF: Mikal Bridges
- C: DeAndre Ayton
Injuries
Thunder
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is OUT (plantar fasciitis in right foot).
- Mike Muscala is OUT (right ankle sprain).
- Aleksej Pokuševski is OUT (left knee contusion).
Suns
- Jae Crowder is OUT (sprained right ankle).
- Cameron Johnson is PROBABLE (sprained right wrist).
- Abdel Nader is OUT (right knee arthroscopy).
- Cameron Payne is QUESTIONABLE (left knee contusion).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 30-14 against the Suns (17-4 at home, 13-10 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Suns 9 times, tied once, and lost twice.
- The Thunder won the season series with the Suns 2-1 a year ago (1-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).
- The Thunder is 1-1 against the Suns so far this season (0-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).