The Oklahoma City Thunder continues their homestand on Wednesday night as they host Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. Kevin Durant is out due to a sprained ankle, but plenty of rumors are flying around the league that he could be moved ahead of the trade deadline tomorrow afternoon anyway. OKC isn’t likely to be making any moves as they have safely maintained the top seed in the West despite not being at full strength all season long.
Cason Wallace will sit another game with a strained shoulder, Jalen Williams is questions to play as he continues to deal with a sprained wrist, and Chet Holmgren is still at least a few weeks out from a potential return, but the Thunder is still a force to be reckoned with. A win tonight would tie them with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the win category, but OKC has one fewer loss than the Cavs, so the Thunder has the best win percentage in the NBA.
The Suns, however, have been about as inconsistent as possible for a team that SHOULD be performing at a high level. At 25-24, Phoenix is sitting at 9th in the West, but they are tied with the Sacramento Kings (8th) and the Golden State Warriors (10th). A lot of season remains to be played, and there’s no telling what can happen based on any moves they may make before tomorrow’s trade deadline, but OKC isn’t worried about any of that. The Thunder continue to focus on their own path as they take each game one at a time, and that means locking in for yet another Western Conference battle tonight.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: ESPN
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: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Aaron Wiggins
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Suns
- PG: Tyus Jones
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Bradley Beal
- PF: Ryan Dunn
- C: Nick Richards
Injury Report
Thunder
- Chet Holmgren (fractured right iliac wing) is OUT.
- Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) is OUT.
- Cason Wallace (strained right shoulder) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (sprained right wrist) is QUESTIONABLE.
Suns
- Kevin Durant (sprained left ankle) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 34-19 against the Suns (19-6 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 went 3-0 against the Suns last (1-0 at home, 2-0 on the road).
- So far this season, the Thunder is 1-0 against the Suns (1-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 4 of the last 5 meetings with the Suns in OKC.