Handing the Suns their third loss of the season is exactly what the Kings will aim for in this second matchup
Who: Phoenix Suns (9-2) @ Sacramento Kings (6-5)
When: 8:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Golden 1 Center — Sacramento, California
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
After Sunday night’s overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, the Suns are headed to Sacramento tonight for a rematch. The team got back to their winning ways with a victory over the Utah Jazz last night, despite being without Jusuf Nurkić and Kevin Durant. Durant is set to be reevaluated for his calf strain in a week and a half, while Nurkić remains day-to-day with an ankle injury.
While it’s easy to dwell on the injuries, the focus must be on taking things one game at a time and relying on Devin Booker to guide the team through these challenges. It’s a role I believe he can thrive in, but the question remains: in tonight’s rematch against the Kings, will Booker seek revenge?
The last thing we need is for this offense to get stagnant. As Bradley Beal points out below. It is the last things the Suns need with the absence of Durant.
Bradley Beal to @DuaneRankin about Suns’ offensive “aggression” needing improvement, getting “too stagnant with the ball” w/o Kevin Durant (calf, OUT for the next 2 weeks):
“We gotta keep the ball moving, bodies moving. We do that, we’re really good, we’re really hard to stop.” pic.twitter.com/L07FV4ywIV
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) November 11, 2024
The Suns are currently 1-1 without Durant and 1-0 without Nurkić. Tonight, it’s crucial for the team to find its rhythm and establish a true leader on the court to maintain its momentum and its position at the top of the Western Conference.
Lineup
Injury Update
Suns
- Jusuf Nurkic — QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Soreness)
- Kevin Durant — OUT (Left Calf Strain)
- Collin Gillespie — OUT (Right Ankle Sprain)
Kings
- Malik Monk — OUT (Right Ankle Sprain)
Uniform Matchup
What To Watch For
Clutch Time
The last game against the Kings on Sunday night highlighted a few areas of concern for the Suns without Kevin Durant in the lineup when the game was on the line. Who is going to match the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan bucket for bucket? And who is going to help defend in the paint? None of that was happening Sunday night, as Fox and DeRozan were scoring at will without a hand in their face, and the Suns were unable to match buckets in overtime.
Fox was unstoppable when it mattered most during Sunday’s game.
De’Aaron Fox struggled early, but came through when it mattered most. His hand looked just fine with the game on the line.
Also: 0 turnovers tonight.
21 PTS | 11 REB | 8 AST | 10/23 FG | 40 MINpic.twitter.com/u9gFPi0zlv
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 11, 2024
It’s a tall task to go up against players like Fox and DeRozan, who thrive in late-game situations and can score from anywhere on the court. It would be encouraging to see Booker step up and deliver, becoming the player the Suns can rely on to secure a victory in the clutch—especially since we know it’s likely to be a close game.
Oso Ighodaro
Oso will need to step up with Yusuf Nurkic injured and Mason Plumlee starting. You can see Oso’s development as he begins to rack up more playing time.
After the games he missed, the question was always, “Why isn’t he playing?” Well, now he is, and with injuries being inevitable, he’ll continue to get opportunities. The real question is: will he take advantage of them?
He already has, in his last showing against the Utah Jazz last night.
“Same prep as if I didn’t know I was going to play.”
Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro after grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds in Suns win vs. Jazz.
On sharing the floor with fellow rookie Ryan Dunn: “It’s fun. I love playing with Ryan. His defensive tenacity.” #Suns #EmiratesNBACup pic.twitter.com/aTnxWkO6aP
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 13, 2024
Prediction
I feel a win coming. The last game was close, and the Suns really should have pulled it out. However, they’ve learned from it, and now they have a chance for redemption. I believe they’ll capitalize and win, 111-105.