The Phoenix Suns (32-28, 20-10 Home) will try to slow down one of the NBA’s top scoring teams when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder (28-30, 11-18 Away) on Friday. Oklahoma City is playing the second of a back-to-back after being narrowly beaten by the Utah Jazz 120-119 in overtime at Vivint Arena yesterday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a top performer in defeat with 39 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. The Thunder are 10th in the Western Conference. Phoenix lost on February 16 at Footprint Center, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 116-107.
Josh Okogie had 24 points in defeat, carrying the team. The Suns are fifth in the Western Conference. It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams. Phoenix won three out of four games between the teams last season, although Oklahoma City won 117-96 in the last meeting at Paycom Center in April 2022.
Olivier Sarr led the Thunder with 24 points. Mikal Bridges had 18 points in the losing effort. The Thunder have been led this season by Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 31.0 points per game, fifth-highest in the league.
Meanwhile, Josh Giddey is contributing 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Deandre Ayton (18.4 ppg) and Bridges (17.2) have supplied much of the Suns’ offense. Ayton also has posted 9.9 rebounds per game, while Bridges has doled out 3.6 assists per game.
The Thunder are one of the top scoring offenses in the NBA, ranking fourth with 117.9 points per game. The teams have split their last 10 meetings at Footprint Center (5-5). Meanwhile, the Thunder are 3-4 this season when playing on consecutive nights and 3-3 with a rest disadvantage.
The Suns are 6-1 with a rest advantage. In the last 10 games, Oklahoma City is 5-5 with an average margin of +4.8 (122.8-118.0). Phoenix has gone 7-3 over the last 10, scoring 113.1 points per game on average while holding opponents to 110.7 (+2.4 margin).
THUNDER HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Jalen Williams: 25.2 | 19.2 | +6.0
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: 6.7 | 13.6 | -7.0
Points per game:
Jalen Williams: 16.4 | 12.1 | +4.3
Rebounds per game:
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: 3.0 | 4.8 | -1.8
SUNS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
T.J. Warren: 6.0 | 12.0 | -6.0
Points per game:
Deandre Ayton: 25.4 | 18.4 | +7.0
Assists per game:
Chris Paul: 11.8 | 9.1 | +2.7
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
OKC Thunder +8.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
