Who: Phoenix Suns (39-27) vs. Toronto Raptors (36-29)
When: 4:30pm Arizona Time
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Toronto Raptors come into tonight losing six of their last eight, with their only wins in that stretch coming against the Mavericks and Wizards. On Wednesday, they lost 122-111 to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Dinos from across the border will be looking to bounce back, while the Phoenix Suns will be continuing
an Eastern Conference road trip on the second night of a back-to-back after last night’s win against the Pacers.
This will be the first of two meetings between the Suns and Raptors in the next ten days, as the Raptors will come to Phoenix on March 22nd.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Grayson Allen – QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
- Haywood Highsmith – QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
- Dillon Brooks – OUT (Hand)
- Mark Williams – OUT (Foot)
Raptors
- Collin Murray-Boyles – GAME-TIME DECISION (Thumb)
- Scottie Barnes – QUESTIONABLE (Illness)
- Chucky Hepburn – OUT (Knee)
What to Watch For
Scottie Barnes has struggled since missing a game on February 22nd for personal reasons. Averaging just 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists compared to his season averages of 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
Coming off two days of rest and playing against a Suns frontcourt missing size due to injury, be on the lookout for a big Scottie Barnes game.
Tonight has big storyline potential for both teams. Can the Suns continue to rebuild some momentum with a fifth straight win? Can the Raptors right the ship after a disappointing stretch?
UPDATE: Scottie Barnes is currently questionable with an illness. If he misses tonight’s game, that significantly reduces the size available to the Raptors.
Key to a Suns Win
Both teams are almost equal on the season when it comes to average rebounds per game. With the Suns continuing to miss some key frontcourt players, the whole team will need to lock in and box out tonight.
The Suns shoot, on average, eight more threes per game than the Raptors (41 to 33). If they hit their shots tonight, like they did in Milwaukee, the Suns could pull out a big win on little rest. Unfortunately, shooting tends to be one of those things that falls off on the second night of a back-to-back.
We will have to see how fresh their legs are after the flight from Indiana.
Prediction
Hopefully, it will be a hard-fought game. These teams score and give up almost identical points per game. Phoenix has the best player in the matchup, and Toronto has the rest of the advantage. Before last night’s game, I was predicting a Raptors win. With Scottie Barnes questionable with an illness and the high I am riding after the Pacers game, I have to go with the Suns:
Raptors 109, Suns 114
