The Oklahoma City Thunder takes on the Suns in Phoenix for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon in a crucial series-defining matchup. The Suns haven’t even really come close in the first two games, but they did make a solid push in the fourth quarter of Game 2 to at least get the Thunder’s attention. Now that the series is in Phoenix, OKC should expect a hostile crowd fueled by frustration that is being modeled by Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.
After the Suns lost to the Thunder in OKC for Game 2, both Booker and Brooks spouted off their takes in postgame media concerning officiating. Booker went so far as to name the official that he had beef with. Phoenix isn’t exactly the most disciplined team in the league, and they play a physical style of basketball, but they don’t care to take responsibility for their actions when the whistle doesn’t go their way. On the other side of the ball, the Suns, specifically Devin Booker, can flop with the best of them, but Phoenix seems more focused on pointing out the splinter in another team’s eye than working on their own plank.
Jalen Williams is out with a strained hamstring, which will put even more pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when he’s in the game, as the second team often struggles offensively when Jalen Williams isn’t available. Ajay Mitchell will get a chance to make an impression, and if his regular-season play is any indication of what to expect, then Thunder fans should be pleasantly surprised with the output.
Regardless of officiating or complaining by the other team, the Thunder cannot get distracted by what is beyond its control. OKC plays physical basketball, but they also do it with a level head. Opposing teams tend to lose control when they overreact and go after officials, but the Thunder often contains its frustration within. The Suns are going to do everything in their power to get under OKC’s skin, but cooler heads tend to prevail, so don’t be surprised if the Thunder goes up 3-0 before the sun goes down.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 2:30 PM CT
Location: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, Arizona)
Television: NBA on NBC
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: Chet Holmgren
- C: Isaiah Hartenstein
Suns
- PG: Devin Booker
- SG: Jalen Green
- SF: Jordan Goodwin
- PF: Dillon Brooks
- C: Oso Ighodaro
Injury Report
Thunder
- Isaiah Joe (personal reasons) is DOUBTFUL.
- Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (strained left hamstring) is OUT.
Suns
- Grayson Allen (strained left hamstring) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Jordan Goodwin (left calf soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Mark Williams (left foot soreness) is OUT.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 41-23 against the Suns in the regular season (24-8 at home, 17-15 on the road) and 2-0 in the Playoffs (2-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have won the season series against the Suns 13 times, tied once, and lost 5 times.
- OKC went 3-2 against Phoenix in the regular season (2-1 at home, 1-1 on the road).
- OKC leads Phoenix 2-0 in the first round of the Playoffs (2-0 at home, 0-0 on the road).