The Suns need to exploit the Warriors’ interior weakness to claim victory.
Who: Phoenix Suns (24-22) @ Golden State Warriors (24-23)
When: 8:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Chase Center — San Francisco, California
Watch: ESPN, AZFamily, Suns Live
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Suns are back in action tonight, doing so in front of a national audience as they head to San Francisco to play the Warriors. Ah, Golden State. A team that left Oakland just like the Raiders and the A’s.
A couple of seasons ago, this was a marquee NBA matchup. Sure, it’s still on ESPN tonight, but with the 9th and 11th seeds in the Western Conference facing off, the excitement has shifted to desperation. Both teams — and their fan bases — are grasping for any shred of positivity as the reality of their season and ultimate fate begins to set in.
Neither squad expected to be here, fighting for Play-In Tournament positioning in late January. Neither is meeting expectations, and at this rate, neither likely will.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Clean!
Warriors
- Draymond Green — OUT (Left Calf Strain)
- Jonathan Kuminga — OUT (Right Ankle Sprain)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Like the Suns, the Warriors are an aging team struggling to keep up this season. In fact, they are the two oldest teams in the NBA, with the Suns averaging 28.3 years and the Warriors close behind at 28. That being said, despite Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga being sidelined for this matchup, the Warriors remain a formidable challenge, particularly in terms of their defensive intensity and relentless hustle. Even without two key contributors, they managed to secure a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, a victory that came despite surrendering a whopping 52 points to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
For Phoenix to have a chance in this game, they’ll need to match Golden State’s energy and defensive tenacity, especially on that end of the floor. If the Suns fail to do so, they’ll find themselves overpowered by the Warriors’ dynamic offense, making it crucial for Phoenix to stay locked in and bring the same level of grit.
Key to a Suns Win
Don’t be afraid to use Nick Richards! It’s bizarre how Coach Bud’s treating him like he’s still wrapped in bubble wrap, afraid he’ll shatter if given too much burn. The guy played just 25 minutes in that disaster of a loss to the Timberwolves. Sure, he’s not a world-beating starting center in the NBA. He’s serviceable, maybe not a consistent starter.
But then again, neither is Mason Plumlee.
So what’s going on here? Why is Bud clinging to Plumlee like he’s the second coming of Alvan Adams? Are we dealing with a ‘Monty Williams and Elie Okobo’ situation here? A bizarre coach’s infatuation with a guy who really isn’t all that?
The Warriors won’t exactly have a giant wall in the paint tonight, and with Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga both sitting out, the interior becomes an even more exploitable area of the floor. So what do you do? You exploit it. And you’re not going to do that with Mason Plumlee, a guy who’s about as athletic as a 1994 minivan.
If you had to pick one guy less athletic than Jusuf Nurkic, Mason would be your man. So why not give Nick Richards a longer leash? He’s got the size, the energy, and at least a chance to give you something. Stop babying him and let the guy play.
Prediction
I feel like this should be a win for the Suns. The Warriors, like the Suns, are a struggling team just muddling through their season. And let’s be honest, the Suns have more talent. So does talent win out tonight? I’m gonna lean toward yes, but I’ll say it with some hesitation. All it takes is one hot stretch where Steph Curry drains four straight threes, and suddenly this game could spiral completely out of control.
Here’s to hoping it stays on track.
Suns 118, Warriors 112