The Phoenix Suns have the final NBA Cup matchup with the San Antonio Spurs in the Footprint Center.
Who: San Antonio Spurs (11-9) @ Phoenix Suns (11-8)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: 3TV & Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns will host the San Antonio Spurs tonight in their final NBA Cup group play game of the season. This is the first meeting between the teams this season.
Chris Paul will return to the Valley and should receive a deserved standing ovation in the intros. Once the ball is tipped, don’t expect him to be anything other than his ultra-competitive self.
Paul has helped lead this Spurs team to an impressive 11-9 start after finishing as one of the worst teams in the association a year ago. The Spurs have won 5 of their last 6 games, and already have half of their total wins from a season ago through their first 20 games.
It is an NBA Cup Game, so expect a little more fuel to the fire than usual. For those who are curious, here is what the situation looks like for the NBA Cup from the Suns’ point of view:
Got questions on the @NBA cup? We made you a guide
Join us on Tuesday for our final Group Play game
️https://t.co/KLK8TsNibp pic.twitter.com/WQmhQiuiAA— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2024
Bradley Beal (calf) partially practiced on Monday and is listed as probable.
The team announced that center Jusuf Nurkic will be out with a right thigh contusion and he will be re-evaluated in one week. That opens the door for some heavy Oso Ighodaro minutes right out of the gate.
Either way, the Suns’ center depth will be tested against a big Spurs team with Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins, and Charles Bassey patrolling the paint. I expect Mason Plumlee to start, but Oso Ighodaro figures to play a key role in this upcoming stretch without Nurkic. We may even see some KD at the five small-ball lineups.
Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
- Bradley Beal — PROBABLE (calf)
- Collin Gillespie — OUT (ankle)
- Jusuf Nurkic — OUT (ankle)
Spurs
- Jeremy Sochan — DAY-TO-DAY (thumb)
- Tre Jones — DAY-TO-DAY (shoulder)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Wemby x Durant: Not from this world
This is the battle many will be tuning in for. While they likely won’t guard each other directly every possession, the moments they matchup are must-see TV. Kevin Durant does not look “small” next to anyone in the NBA, but Wembanyama may be the exception there.
Wembanyama is fresh off a monstrous 34-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in a win against the Kings in Sacramento. Last season, Wemby had a 38-point game in Phoenix to lead the Spurs to a win against the Suns, so they know firsthand what he’s capable of. The Suns are 10-2 with Kevin Durant in the lineup this season, and they’ll look to make that 11-2 after this in-conference battle.
The present vs. the future. This matchup doesn’t need a ton of analysis — it’s self-explanatory. These two are worth the price of admission alone.
Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Vets & Youth
Each team has a unique set of veterans and youth who play significant roles in their rotation. The Spurs rely heavily on a pair of 20-year-olds in Wemby and their rookie guard, Stephon Castle. Julian Champagnie (23) has also seen a large dosage of minutes and has started for the injured Devin Vassell who is back but playing limited minutes for now.
The Suns, on the other hand, have given their rookies significant minutes from the jump. Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro have risen to the occasion when their number has been called and look mature for rookies, as we hoped.
Devin Booker on the rookies: “That’s the young energy. They’re all around the court, blocking shots and making plays.”
Bringing that young energy, instincts, and athleticism
️ Book speaks on the rookies pic.twitter.com/IUldFOIIcU
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 2, 2024
Point God Revenge Game?
Chris Paul is averaging 10.7 points, 8.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game on 45.3% shooting. Those numbers may not pop off the page, but as it’s always been with Paul, it’s about his unwavering leadership and intagibles.
“There’s the cliché of having a coach on the court but I don’t know that I’ve seen anybody that is more true and it is not a cliché,” Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said of Paul ahead of tonight’s game.
Tyus Jones is the Suns’ first actual Chris Paul replacement, after going last season without a true point guard. Watching these two go head-to-head making excellent decision quarterbacking the offense will be a matchup within the matchup to watch.
Prediction
This one is a lot tougher than you might think on the surface. The Spurs are not going to make it easy — let’s just hope the Suns know that.
I’ll give Phoenix a slight edge here. 114-109.