Suns Reveal Starters vs Grizzlies
The Phoenix Suns are set to play the first of a three-game road slate today against the Memphis Grizzlies, and head coach Frank Vogel will utilize the following starting lineup:
Devin Booker
Grayson Allen
Eric Gordon
Keita Bates-Diop
Jusuf Nurkic
The Suns will be without Kevin Durant, who was initially listed as questionable but soon was downgraded to out ahead of tonight with right foot soreness. In his place takes Keita Bates-Diop, somebody Vogel has spoken highly about in the past:
"I like Keita’s (Bates-Drop) length and defensive versatility; he can help us on the boards. A lot of times, you go small and your small ball is too small, you have the shooting necessary and the switch ability necessary, but you don’t have the size to rebound or protect the rim and KD gives us a little bit of all of that. We haven’t done it a lot, so the offensive organization can be a little bit better.”
This will be the first game Durant has missed all season. Also out for the Suns today are Drew Eubanks (left ankle sprain), Yuta Watanabe (quad), Bradley Beal (back) and Damion Lee (knee).
Phoenix is on a five-game winning streak while the Grizzlies are just 3-11 on the year. With a convincing win, the Suns could see themselves head into the knockout stages of the NBA's first ever in-season tournament.
Opening tip is slated for just after 3:00 PM Arizona time.
