Who: Phoenix Suns (42-33) @ Orlando Magic (39-35)
When: 4:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Kia Center — Orlando, Florida
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
After shedding six of seven, the Phoenix Suns have a win streak. Winners of their final two, Phoenix took benefit of two of their best opponents left on their schedule, beating each the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies by 20+. Tonight, they’ll face a more durable problem, on a back-to-back in opposition to the Orlando Magic.
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Orlando began scorching popping out of the All-Star break, however have cooled down tremendously of late. The crew is 3-7 of their final 10 video games and on Sunday allowed the longest scoring run in NBA historical past, letting the Raptors put collectively a 31-0 run, after they misplaced by 52. They at present sit in eighth in the East.
The largest information of the game for the Suns? After lacking 18 video games with a fractured left hand, Dillon Brooks is returning, and coincidentally, it’s in opposition to the crew that he suffered the harm in opposition to. Acquired final offseason when the Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, Brooks is considered one of the principal causes the Suns have had such a stunning season. In 50 video games this 12 months, Brooks has been the Suns’ second-best participant this season, anchoring the crew’s perimeter protection, and is the crew’s second main scorer, averaging 21 factors a game.
Phoenix is 12-13 when Brooks doesn’t play this 12 months, and 9-9 since he bought harm. The Suns have endured a litany of accidents since the ahead went out, however his absence is the most prevalent and longest. It’s not a lower-body harm, so count on Brooks to not miss a beat from a minutes perspective, however we will see how Jordan Ott and the teaching workers deal with his minutes.
Tonight is the first time the two groups have confronted off since Jalen Green hit a surreal, fading buzzer-beating three in a double additional time thriller.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Amir Coffey – OUT (Left Ankle Sprain)
Haywood Highsmith – OUT (Right Knee Injury Management)
Mark Williams – OUT (Left Foot Third Metatarsal Stress Reaction)
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Magic
Anthony Black — OUT (Abdominal Strain)
Colin Castleton — OUT (G-League)
Jonathan Isaac — OUT (Left Knee Sprain)
Alex Morales — OUT (G-League)
Franz Wagner — OUT (Left Ankle Sprain)
What to Watch For
How does Dillon Brooks look?
While conditioning could also be an issue for him, a wrist harm to his non-shooting hand shouldn’t restrict his efficiency an excessive amount of. Since Brooks went out, each Jalen Green and Devin Booker have develop into the crew’s offensive engines, main most of the scoring with Collin Gillespie taking a backseat function.
Brooks, Booker, and Green haven’t shared the ground a lot this season, and after they have, Green was early in his restoration from his hamstring harm.
Phoenix continues to be with out considered one of its prime main scorers in Mark Williams, so Brooks nonetheless has a possibility to fill an offensive void the crew is coping with, however the middle is predicted to return to the court docket quickly as nicely.
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Key to a Suns Win
Fortunately for the Suns, three of 5 starters yesterday performed below 26 minutes, together with Booker and Green, so for a back-to-back, the crew might have some additional juice, together with probably having Grayson Allen and Brooks in the lineup too.
That being mentioned, Phoenix must get forward early to keep away from drained legs late in the game, and attempt to take any confidence or motivation a hungry Orlando crew might have after struggling considered one of the most embarrassing losses in NBA historical past.
Prediction
Orlando has been struggling. While they do have the relaxation and journey benefit, the Suns took care of them with out Booker final time, and Brooks lacking most of the game. I like the Suns in a reasonably shut one.
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Suns 123, Magic 112
