The Phoenix Suns will try to spoil Paul George’s 76er debut.
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (1-4) @ Phoenix Suns (5-1)
When: 8:15 pm Arizona Time
Where: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: NBA TV, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns will look to continue their winning ways on Monday night. They have won 4 straight and aim to improve to 6-1 to start the 2024-25 season.
They will do so against the Philadelphia 76ers’ newest star, Paul George, who is making his team debut. The 76ers will be without Joel Embiid again, but George’s addition gives them a sizeable boost after a rough start to the season.
He participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage Friday and went through practice Sunday in Phoenix. The team officially listed him as questionable for Monday.
Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George is expected to make his season debut on Monday vs. the Phoenix Suns, barring any setbacks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/n2nHUtaNNE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 4, 2024
Phoenix is fresh off a rollercoaster win against the Blazers at home on Saturday night. They had a monstrous 44-point 3rd quarter followed up by a disastrous 16-point 4th quarter. Which team will we get? The hope is the Suns play their best “48 minute game” tonight as they continue to gel.
Philadelphia fell to Memphis at home in their last contest, dropping to 0-3 on their home court. They’ve been down two stars in Paul George and Joel Embiid this season, so it’s tough to judge them being the unfinished product they are.
Projected Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
- Bradley Beal — QUESTIONABLE (Right Elbow Sprain)
76ers
- Paul George — QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
- Joel Embiid — OUT (Knee)
Uniform Matchup
What To Watch For
BEEF: Book vs. PG13
It’s no secret that these two do not get along. Paul George and Devin Booker have beef dating back to the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
George spoke with Taylor Rooks about it, saying: “He was little bro when he came in the league, then all of a sudden the temperature changed, a line was passed… Things got heated, it came from [his] end.”
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Devin on being asked if it (the beef) will ever be resolved: “I honestly don’t care. It’s just hoops man, it’s competitive. It’s nothing that lives off the floor.”
The shots fired on and off the court (via podcast) shows that Booker is living rent-free in Paul George’s head after he tried to bait Klay Thompson into going down a path he chose not to.
Devin Booker seems to call out Paul George for trying to bait Klay Thompson
(h/t @protectedpick ) pic.twitter.com/rwizQ2avcx
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 8, 2023
The NBA is more entertaining when players don’t get along. We need more rivalries like this. So instead of shying away from it, I’m here to embrace it. Go at each other!
Familiar Faces
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Eric Gordon will be suiting up against their former team. Gordon is a more recent Sun, after spending last season in Phoenix leading the second unit. His heart was in Phoenix back in the day, but his lone year was a bit disappointing overall. He is averaging 7.6 points on just 31.6% shooting from 3-point range.
Oubre on the other hand has bounced around the league since he was traded for Chris Paul. He has carved out a nice role for the Sixers, serving as one of their top scoring options and providing his typical high-energy play. He is averaging 18.0 points per game on 40.2% shooting from the field this season.
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Perimeter Defense
Philadelphia has the second-worst 3-point percentage in the NBA at 31.1%, with the 0-6 Utah Jazz as the only team worse than them at 28.2%. The Suns should look to clog the lane and force Philly into long jumpers.
Tyrese Maxey will be a problem to stay in front of, as he is one of the shiftiest young guards in the association. He is averaging 29.8 points per game, taking on a heavy workload with his two co-stars both sidelined to begin the season.
There are plenty of storylines here, but without Joel Embiid and the 76ers trying to find an identity while incorporating a new star, the Suns must take advantage. This is a game they need to show up for as they look to keep stockpiling the wins early in the season.
Prediction
Suns win a tough one. Philly plays gassed up with the addition of George but falls short late.
Phoenix 120, Philadelphia 113