Game Preview: Suns’ bench boosts momentum but Atlanta remains a challenge

The Phoenix Suns look to extend win streak but face tough test in Atlanta.

Who: Phoenix Suns (19-19) @ Atlanta Hawks (19-19)

When: 5:30pm Arizona Time

Where: State Farm Arena — Atlanta, Georgia

Watch: AZFamily, Suns Live

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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It’s the battle for mediocrity, folks. Both teams stroll into tonight’s matchup with a pristine 19-19 record, jockeying for that coveted spot in the NBA’s middle tier. Less than a week ago, on Dave King’s Bright Side Night, the Phoenix Suns handed the Atlanta Hawks a 123-115 loss, with Bradley Beal casually dropping a 25-point gem.

It was the last game the Hawks played, as their Saturday night game was postponed against the Houston Rockets due to icy conditions in Atlanta. What is the world coming to?

The Suns, amid a stretch of games against decidedly ‘meh’ competition, played one of their sharpest games of this stretch against Atlanta. They were a picture of offensive efficiency, and aside from a hiccup of a 41-point second quarter by the Hawks, the Suns had things under control. They led for 36 minutes and 10 seconds, not that anyone’s counting. The big question now: can they replicate that performance, this time kicking off a five-game road trip in enemy territory?

Historically, the Suns have struggled with Atlanta. Honestly, I was surprised they pulled off the win last Thursday because the numbers, and the arrival of Trae Young, haven’t been in their favor. Since Young entered the league, the Suns are a less-than-stellar 5-8 against the Hawks. And speaking of Young, the man has practically made the Suns his personal highlight reel. He averages 27.1 points and 10.7 assists per game against Phoenix. He’s a walking double-double who’s made it his mission to remind Suns fans what could have been on draft night.

Granted, Young is questionable tonight with an illness, but we all know how this goes. Players mysteriously “ill” suddenly find their groove when it’s time to torch the Suns. It’s just tradition at this point.

So here we are, with the Suns trying to escape the gravitational pull of mediocrity and the Hawks looking to prove they’re more than an NBA punchline. First stop on the road trip? Atlanta. Let’s see if Phoenix can make it two in a row against the Hawks and four in a row overall. Or if Trae Young adds another chapter to his Suns-scorching saga.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Grayson Allen — PROBABLE (Left Knee)
• Jusuf Nurkic — OUT (“Illness”)

Hawks

• Trae Young — QUESTIONABLE (Illness)
• Bogdan Bogdanovic — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Inflammation)
• Kobe Bufkin — OUT (Right Shoulder Surgery)
• Jalen Johnson — OUT (Right Shoulder Inflammation)
• Larry Nance, Jr. — OUT (Right Hand Surgery)
• Cody Zeller — OUT (Not With Team)

Uniform Matchup

What to Watch For

Sixth Man Brad

The decision to shift Bradley Beal to the bench has been a win for the Suns, plain and simple. Since making the adjustment, the team has gone 3-1, and it’s not just a “Booker starts, tag Brad, you’re it” scenario. Instead, it’s been a strategic recalibration of rotational minutes. A deliberate move to pair Booker and Beal on the court during stretches when Tyus Jones is off the floor.

And guess what? It’s working. The Suns’ bench production, which had languished at 24th in the league, has skyrocketed to third since the change. The numbers don’t lie, and neither does the team’s newfound rhythm. Sometimes, the right tweak can make all the difference.

On the flip side, their starting scoring production has dipped from 10th to 24th, leading some to argue it’s a wash. And to a degree, they’d have a point. But this shift isn’t just about raw numbers. It’s a reset of the team’s strategic approach to scoring. By deploying a three-time All-Star against second-unit rotations during the first wave of substitutions, you’re stacking the odds in your favor. In theory, it’s a smart move, and so far, it’s proving effective on the court.

Atlanta’s Pace

Atlanta is a high-octane team built to thrive on speed, boasting the third-fastest pace in the NBA and ranking seventh in points per game. However, they’ll face some hurdles tonight with a slew of injuries disrupting their roster. Trae Young’s status remains uncertain, Jalen Johnson and Larry Nance Jr. are out, and Bogdan Bogdanovic is listed as questionable. Their depth is compromised. But oddly enough, that might work in their favor.

When bench players step into the spotlight, they often bring a frenetic energy, desperate to make their mark. That chaos aligns well with the system head coach Quin Snyder has meticulously crafted. Snyder’s approach leverages speed, aggression, and unpredictability, and when unheralded players hit the floor, their hunger to prove themselves can inject an unpredictable edge.

For a team like Atlanta, even with key players missing, the stage is set for a fast-paced, scrappy battle that keeps opponents on their toes.

Trae Young

I’ve never been a big fan of Trae Young’s game, and I probably never will be. Call it personal preference, call it irrational bias. I just don’t vibe with his style. Maybe it’s the hair? Maybe it’s the way his game feels like it’s pulled straight out of a mixtape instead of a playbook. Doesn’t mean I don’t respect it, though. And you can bet the Suns will respect it too.

Here’s the thing about Young: he’s a maestro with the basketball, a guy with court vision so sharp it could cut glass. He’s one of the early disciples of the Steph Curry school of basketball, that first generation of players who grew up idolizing deep threes and off-the-dribble chaos.

We just saw it last week with LaMelo Ball. These guys would rather launch a 32-foot grenade for the Instagram highlight reel than grind through a well-executed possession. And the kicker? Young actually hits those absurd shots. Case in point: his buzzer-beater against the Jazz last week.

Stopping Trae Young is always scribbled in bold on the whiteboard when you’re game-planning for the Hawks. The problem is, when you slow him down as a shooter, he just morphs into a distributor. And that’s where things get dangerous for Phoenix. The Suns’ interior defense is vulnerable, and Young tossing lobs to Clint Capela could quickly turn into the night’s recurring theme. It’s not a question of if Young will make an impact. It’s how much damage he’ll do while he’s at it.

Suns Interior Defense

No Jusuf Nurkic again in this one. His “illness” must really have him down, though not as much as already being sidelined by Coach Bud’s rotation decisions.

And while Nurkic’s deficiencies have been well-documented, his absence will be felt against Atlanta simply because of his size, a commodity the Suns desperately need.

Let’s face it: the Suns are small. Not unskilled, mind you. Oso Ighodaro has emerged as a promising and capable backup big, but small nonetheless. And against a guy like Clint Capela, size matters. Capela is a force in the interior, especially when it comes to cleaning up the glass. He ranks 10th in the league in offensive rebounding, and the Hawks are 11th in second-chance points, a dangerous combination for a Phoenix team already vulnerable in the paint.

Sure, Atlanta will be without their top rebounder, Jalen Johnson, but that might not matter. The Suns, ranked 18th in points allowed in the paint, are susceptible to teams that attack down low, and the Hawks happen to score the third-most points in the paint in the league. It’s a mismatch on paper, and it’s likely to play out as one unless Phoenix finds a way to plug their interior gaps.

Key to a Suns Win

The Suns need to keep riding this groove like a wave they refuse to wipe out on. Confidence in the fourth quarter paired with clutch shot-making can absolutely take down Atlanta because, let’s be honest, the Hawks don’t exactly hang their hat on defense. They give up the third-most points per game in the league and sit a mediocre 21st in defensive rating. Atlanta’s a firecracker offensively, no doubt, but like the Suns, their defensive lapses leave them vulnerable to runs at any moment.

The key for the Suns? Simple. Make sure you’ve got the last run of the game.

This is where Kevin Durant has to come alive. With Dyson Daniels (or whichever long-limbed pest the Hawks throw at him) likely assigned to hound Devin Booker, it’s on KD to step up and own the moment. He needs to exploit mismatches, hit the mid-range daggers, and remind Atlanta’s defense why he’s one of the most unguardable players on the planet.

A nice, juicy 45-piece from Durant would go a long way in tilting this one in Phoenix’s favor. And frankly, if KD doesn’t light up the Hawks, it could be a long night for the Suns.

Prediction

It’s been an up-and-down year for Phoenix, as their current record makes clear. Considering their history against Atlanta and their ongoing struggles with rebounding, I don’t see the Suns coming out on top in this matchup. Will they compete? Absolutely. But in a hostile road environment, I predict the Hawks will find their rhythm in the final five minutes, while the Suns fall victim to costly turnovers.

Too often, when the Suns should win, it’s not the opponent earning the victory. It’s Phoenix shooting themselves in the foot. Tonight is one of those nighs.

Hawks 118, Suns 113