Previewing Suns' Upcoming Three-Game Gauntlet

The Phoenix Suns have three massive games coming up - here's our preview.

Phoenix Suns v San Antonio Spurs / Ronald Cortes/GettyImages

PHOENIX -- Every week seemingly has become more vital than the last for the Phoenix Suns - and this upcoming three-game slate is no different following the loss to the San Antonio Spurs last night.

All three games from now until Sunday are on the road. All three games are against teams who currently sit inside the top four in the Western Conference standings.

The truth is this may be the Suns' last stand. The last chance to make a real impression against top-tier contenders. The last chance to potentially make a run at avoiding the play-in tournament.

What are the obstacles standing in the way of the pursuit of getting in a more desirable position?

Wednesday: @ Denver Nuggets

The Suns' most impressive win of 2023-24 came in Denver on March 5.

Phoenix came into that game as huge underdogs in the absence of Devin Booker, but Jusuf Nurkic did an admirable job of containing Nikola Jokic, while Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal took over the game when it was needed most.

There's even more pressure on the Suns now than there was just three weeks ago following the loss to the Spurs - and the quest to defeat Denver will be difficult - the only other game Denver has dropped since the all-star break was a game that the Dallas Mavericks won as time expired.

Friday: @ Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have controlled the vast majority of the duology of games the two teams have played so far this season - both in Phoenix.

OKC posts a 28-7 record at home this season as well, and the fan-base has once again rose to prominence for being extremely loud and passionate at Thunder home games.

This will be another uphill climb for the Suns.

Sunday: @ New Orleans Pelicans

The Suns obliterated the Pelicans in the first matchup of the season in a game that saw Booker go for 52 points in.

The Pelicans are a different team now.

They have the second-best net rating in the NBA since the All-Star break and have positioned themselves as a legitimate threat in the West - even to the point of being in pole position to host the first two games in a first-round playoff series.

The Pelicans will presumably be without star Brandon Ingram for the next two-plus weeks, but they have proven to be an extremely deep and well-coached team despite outside factors.

The Suns need to win two of these three games to feel good about getting out of the play-in tournament.