With just four games left in the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder controls their own destiny in terms of making the playoffs. At 38-40, OKC sits at 10th in the West—1 game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves and 1 game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks. After dropping two games in the last week that they probably should have won, the Thunder has their work cut out for them on Sunday evening when they host the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns are 4th in the Western Conference standings at 42-35, and they have no chance of catching the third-place Sacramento Kings, However, Phoenix is just 1.5 games ahead of the Golden State Warriors, so they have every reason to play this game with every bit of vitality that they can muster.
The Thunder defeated the Suns 124-120 just a couple of weeks ago in OKC, but Phoenix is now at full strength, and they should be considered one of the favorites to come out of the Western Conference on top. OKC is just a 5.5-point underdog, but it should probably be more, and with good reason. The Thunder has not played well lately, and if they want to have any chance at all against the Suns, they’re going to have to play at the top of their game.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (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
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Phoenix Suns Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Jaylin Williams
Suns
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Josh Okogie
- PF: Kevin Durant
- C: DeAndre Ayton
Injury Report
Thunder
- Chet Holmgren is OUT (right foot surgery).
- Kenrich Williams is OUT (scapholunate ligament surgery in left wrist).
Suns
- NONE
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 31-18 against the Suns (18-5 at home, 13-13 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 4 times.
- The Thunder lost the season series with the Suns 1-3 a year ago (1-1 at home, 0-2 on the road).
- The Thunder is 1-2 against the Suns so far this season (1-0 at home, 0-2 on the road).