The Oklahoma City Thunder is all set to host the Phoenix Suns on Friday night for their first game of the Emirates NBA Cup. OKC is grouped with Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Utah Jazz, and the San Antonio Spurs, and tonight is a good opportunity to get ahead in the standings for an opportunity to play in the Knockout Round next month.
The Thunder is fresh off a 106-88 home victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. After a slow start, OKC settled in and pushed the pace as they forced the Pelicans into 23 turnovers, which resulted in 29 Thunder points. The Suns are missing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, but they are 9-3 on the season and right behind OKC in the standings. On Wednesday, Phoenix dropped a 127-104 decision to the Kings in Sacramento, so they’re looking for a rebound win.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: FanDuel TV
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: Cason Wallace
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Aaron Wiggins
- C: Jalen Williams
Suns
- PG: Tyus Jones
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Royce O’Neale
- PF: Ryan Dunn
- C: Jusuf Nurkic
Injury Report
Thunder
- Alex Caruso (right hip soreness) is OUT.
- Alex Ducas (G League — two-way) is OUT.
- Isaiah Hartenstein (fractured left hand) is OUT.
- Chet Holmgren (fractured right iliac wing) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (left ACL surgery recovery) is OUT.
- Jaylin Williams (strained right hamstring) is OUT.
Suns
- Grayson Allen (right hamstring soreness) is OUT.
- Bradley Beal (strained left calf) is OUT.
- Kevin Durant (strained left calf) is OUT.
- Collin Gillespie (fractured right ankle) is OUT.
- Jusuf Nurkic (sprained left ankle) is QUESTIONABLE.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 33-19 against the Suns (18-6 at home, 15-13 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have won the season series against the Suns 9 times, tied once, and lost 5 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 are 2-0 against the Suns so far this season (0-0 at home, 2-0 on the road).