The Oklahoma City Thunder heads into Phoenix on Sunday night riding a four-game win streak after losing four of their previous six. The Thunder’s defense is back to exhausting opponents, and the offense has been firing on all cylinders behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency. Still, it’s a long season, and we’re not even quite to the halfway mark.
OKC’s dealt with about as many injuries as any team in the league, but their depth has kept them winning games. The Thunder’s injury report is pretty extensive headed into this meeting with the Suns, but as long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the floor, OKC fans have to feel a sense of comfort. Add to it the level that Chet Holmgren has been playing on both ends, and all the Thunder really needs is for Jalen Williams to re-acclimate to his dominant form from last season.
Phoenix has had a surprisingly successful season thus far, at least when put up against preseason expectations, so they’re no pushover. At 20-14, the Suns have won 5 out of their last 6 games, and they are 11-5 at home, but OKC’s 11-3 record on the road is the best in the league. Phoenix boasts one of the league’s best defenses, but the Thunder knows a thing or two about defense. Even with the injuries, OKC knows how to play team defense, and if they can continue their reign of terror, then they will head back home with their win streak at 5.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, Arizona)
Television: Fanduel Sports Network 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: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Aaron Wiggins
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Suns
- PG: Collin Gillespie
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Dillon Brooks
- PF: Royce O’Neale
- C: Mark Williams
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng (strained right calf) is OUT.
- Isaiah Hartenstein (strained left soleus) is OUT.
- Isaiah Joe (left knee soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Cason Wallace (right knee soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Jaylin Williams (right heel bursitis) is OUT.
Suns
- Grayson Allen (right knee injury management) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Jordan Goodwin (sprained jaw) is AVAILABLE.
- Jalen Green (strained right hamstring) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 38-19 against the Suns (22-6 at home, 16-13 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have won the season series against the Suns 10 times, tied once, and lost 5 times.
- The Thunder went 3-0 against the Suns last season (2-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- OKC is 2-0 against Phoenix so far this season (2-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 8 straight against the Suns.