The Suns lost to the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night, 107-92. They were within striking distance until mid fourth quarter, when Kawhi Leonard and company decided they wanted to win in convincing fashion. With the defeat, the Suns dropped to 8-18.
In the game, they struggled making shots, as Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe, the two main options of the team, both shot below 35 percent.
The same result could happen Saturday. When the Suns battled with the Thunder during the first week of the season (and lost 113-110 in OT), the two were a combined 14-for-41. It was TJ Warren that helped made the game close, scoring a career-high 30 points, nine rebounds, and three assists – he’s still nursing a head injury and will be out for the game.
Scoring (106.5 PPG) and rebounding (45.7 RPG) are where the Suns excel the most, as they both rank inside the top seven of both stat categories. Outside of that, there’s not much good things to see. All are a bunch of dreadful numbers, including placing 29th in points allowed (112.9 PPG), dead-last in assists (18.5 APG), and being in the bottom eight of offensive and defensive ratings.
Phoenix is 3-8 in their last 11 games on the road (6-5 ATS).
After compiling a season-best six-game winning streak, the Thunder are staggering again. The past week saw them lose three of their four outings, with the last two being unexpected blowouts – 114-95 against the Blazers and 109-89 to the Jazz.
Like their next opponents, field goals have been hard to come by. In those pair of games, Russell Westbrook shot an awful 14-for-44, while the rest of his supporting cast were 49-for-125.
Against the visiting Suns, the Thunder should be able to do better, especially Westbrook. In that aforementioned win several weeks prior, the All-Star point guard erupted for one of the most impressive triple-doubles the league has ever seen, as he posted 51 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
That said, he still needs help from his guys. Victor Oladipo (16.2 PPG), Steven Adams (11.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG), and Enes Kanter (12.7 PPG, 5.7RPG) will need to step up and take some pressure off from their All-Star guard.
The Thunder are currently seventh in the West with a 15-11 record. They are putting up 105.6 PPG on 45.3-percent shooting, which are both ranked inside the top 13 in the league and a bit identical on the league average. Further, they are 12th and ninth in the offense and defensive ratings, respectively.
OKC is 4-1 SU (3-2 ATS) in their last five games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
“Mr. Triple Double” records another insane stat line and OKC wins, 112-106.
