Game Preview: Suns Look to get Back on Track in Battle of No. 1 Seeds
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The Phoenix Suns have faced recent struggles, dropping two of their last three games in embarrassing fashion. A blowout loss to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks may have been the wake-up call that the Suns needed.
Phoenix now returns home to take on the No. 1 team in the NBA in the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are 8-2 over their last 10 games as they sit with a 20-5 record. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, or "the Jays" as fans call them, have been on a tear as of late.
Tatum, the current MVP front-runner, has led the Celtics to one of their best starts in franchise history. This game is the first meeting between the two teams this season, as each team looks to remain atop their conference. The last time these two teams met was New Year's Eve in 2021, when Boston filled the box score with seven double-digit performances.
Injury Report
The Celtics will head to Arizona without Danilo Gallinari and Rob Williams, and with Malcolm Brogdon listed as probable.
The Suns' injury report is one to note as Chris Paul, who's been out for 14 games with a heel injury, is now likely to make his return.
The Suns will be without Duane Washington Jr once again, and Torey Craig is listed as questionable. Cam Johnson remains out, too.
Answer Behind Recent Struggles
Over their last three games, Phoenix has a defensive rating of 118.8, which would be the second-worst rating in the NBA. This is mainly where the issues have been, as the Suns have had a 124.7 offensive rating over this three-game stretch.
Boston will be a tough matchup as they currently have the best offensive rating in the NBA. If they can get stops early and set the tone on defense, the Suns will have a significant chance of winning. A win against the top-seeded Celtics would be a big confidence booster for Phoenix and a significant step in the right direction.
How to Watch/Listen/Stream
National TV: ESPN
Stream: fuboTV (click here to start your free trial)
Home Radio: KMVP 98.7 / S: KSUN
Away Radio: WROR (105.7 FM)
