Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Suns+
Listen: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM, SiriusXM
Four preseason games down. One to go. Tonight will be the last chance to tune things up before the games count, and Phoenix could use a good one. The Suns are 1-3 after Wednesday’s 123-103 loss in San Antonio, where the Spurs outscored them by 18 at the line and by 18 from three.
The Jazz come in at 2-1. Phoenix took the season series from Utah
last year, 2-1, including a 134-109 win in the last meeting on March 28th.
Who actually suits up is still TBD. Luke Kennard will sit with a sore knee after leaving Wednesday’s game in the second quarter. The rest of the rotation is a game-time call, and with the opener on October 21st, don’t be surprised if Jordan Ott keeps a few regulars in sweats.
Dillon Brooks will not be one of them, as he intends to play tonight for a final tune-up against his former teammate.
Tale of the Tape
All of the statistics listed below are from last season.
Probable Starters
Taking a guess here. Bridges and Kennard sit out as a precaution, and the starters get a few minutes early on, nothing crazy. We should have updates soon.
Phoenix
- Jalen Green
- Devin Booker
- Dillon Brooks
- Ryan Dunn
- Oso Ighodaro
Utah
- Keyonte George
- Darryn Peterson
- Lauri Markkanen
- Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Jaxson Hayes
Injury Report
Suns
We shall see if Miles Bridges suits up. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phoenix rest him as a precaution, with it being the preseason and all.
- Mark Williams — OUT (Torn Left Labrum)
- Miles Bridges — DTD (Ankle)
- Luke Kennard — OUT (Knee Soreness)
Jazz
- Jusuf Nurkic — OUT (Foot)
- Kyle Filipowski — DTD (Back)
- Blake Hinson — DTD (Hip)
What to Watch For
The dress rehearsal rotation. This is the last look before games start counting. If the regulars play, watch who takes Kennard’s minutes. If they don’t, it’s another long audition for the guys fighting for the last spots. Kennedy Chandler made his case Wednesday, scoring all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. We will likely see plenty of Bouyea, Spencer, Brea, Highsmith, and Peat as well.
The emphasis should be on two things: fouling and three-point shooting.
San Antonio went 30-of-35 at the line Wednesday, and Phoenix shot 7-of-31 from deep. The Suns won the paint by 16 and still lost by 20. Clean that up heading into the regular season, starters or not.
The youth movement will be underway again. To me, this is like one of those late April games where it feels more like rec ball than pro ball.
Key to a Suns Win
Stay out of foul trouble and make Utah’s defense pay. Phoenix lost by 20 in San Antonio because it gave up 30 made free throws and shot 7-of-31 from deep, even after winning the paint by 16. Utah allowed 126.0 points per game last season, the most in the league.
If the Suns keep attacking the rim the way they did Wednesday and knock down open shots, the points will be there. Defend without reaching, and this one should not be close.
The biggest “win” we can take from this one is entering the season opener healthy. That’s our real win.
Prediction
My pick: Phoenix ends the preseason on a good note.
Whoever suits up gets a final look at what the rotation should be, along with some free-flowing basketball in the 2nd half, and the Suns head into the opener with some momentum.
Suns 115, Jazz 110
