Suns Have One of NBA's Hardest Schedules to Finish Season

The Phoenix Suns hope to hang on to their current seeding with Kevin Durant out for most - if not all - of the regular season. They have one of the toughest schedules in the league to finish the regular season.

The Phoenix Suns were able to stop a three-game losing streak with a much needed win over the Orlando Magic at the Footprint Center on Thursday. 

Still without Kevin Durant, the Suns might have to navigate the remainder of the regular season without their superstar forward. Suns GM James Jones said Durant would be playing if the playoffs were today, so perhaps the organization is simply exercising caution. 

Currently at 38-32, the Suns are the West's No. 4 seed. It's highly unlikely they're catching up to the Denver Nuggets' nine-game lead over them, but there's still a possibility Phoenix can make up ground with the Sacramento Kings/Memphis Grizzlies just 4.5 games over them at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. 

The remainder of the Western Conference Standings are where things are a bit more jumbled. 

5. Los Angeles Clippers (one game back from Phoenix)
6. Dallas Mavericks (2.5 games back from Phoenix)
7. Golden State Warriors (2.5 games back from Phoenix)
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (3.5 games back from Phoenix)
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (4 games back from Phoenix) 
10. Los Angeles Lakers (4.5 games back from Phoenix) 
11. Utah Jazz (4.5 games back from Phoenix)

With just 12 games left in the regular season, the Suns have the sixth-toughest schedule remaining with a SOS (strength of schedule) of .526, according to Tankathon. Phoenix just concluded a week where they faced Milwaukee/Golden State on a back-to-back. 

Phoenix's next four-of-five games are on the road, beginning with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.