Who: Phoenix Suns (26-17) @ Philadelphia 76ers (23-18)
When: 5:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Tonight finally looks to be the night that Jalen Green returns for the Phoenix Suns from his two-and-a-half-month absence with a hamstring injury. Before yesterday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said as much, saying that all signs point to him playing in today’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Green, 23, was one of the main pieces the Suns acquired when they traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets during the offseason. A 20-point scorer for his career, Green played two games for the Suns this year after re-aggravating his hamstring that he had hurt before the season. In two games this season, Green averaged 15.5 points per game in the two contests, but got hurt in the second. Green’s 29 points were the second-most ever scored in a Suns debut, and his six made threes are the most ever in a Suns debut.
Coming into the matchup, the Suns have momentum. Strong games from Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, and Collin Gillespie, along with the team hitting 20 or more threes, led the team to a 126-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets for their second in a row and fifth in seven games.
Phoenix is currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for sixth in the Western Conference. A win tonight over the Philadelphia 76ers would make them ten games over .500 for the first time this season and since the 2023-24 season. Philadelphia is no easy opponent, however.
Projected Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
- Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Management)
- Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
76ers
- Joel Embiid — OUT (Right Ankle Injury Management)
- Paul George — QUESTIONABLE (Left Knee Injury Management)
- Johni Broome — DOUBTFUL (Left Thumb)
- Kelly Oubre, Jr. — AVAILABLE (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
Obviously, how Jalen Green performs and how the team adjusts to his presence. There’s not a large sample size of how he’ll perform as a Sun, considering he’s played just one whole game without getting hurt, and Dillon Brooks didn’t play in it. Presumably, he’ll be on a minutes restriction, so just because he’s likely to start does not mean that he’ll be playing starters’ minutes.
Look for Devin Booker to be the team’s primary ball handler and shift back to playing point guard, which he did before Collin Gillespie became a starter. The Suns look to have a stronger bench unit if Green is starting. Gillespie and Grayson Allen look to be the team’s first subs, along with Jordan Goodwin playing a combo guard role.
Like Jordan Ott said postgame after the team’s win, there will be bumps in the process of implementing Green into the rotation, but his presence around the team while injured should help.
Keys to a Suns Win
Both teams are coming off victories yesterday. Joel Embiid hasn’t played in a back-to-back in over two years, and Mark Williams’ status for back-to-backs is always in the air. Even with Green returning, the Suns could be missing one of their starters with a roster that played a game less than 24 hours before tip-off.
If the Suns can do what they did against the Nets, make threes early, move the ball, and limit turnovers, they should be in good shape to get their third-straight win. After being a mystery going into the season, the 76ers are having a strong year. Sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference, when Joel Embiid has been in the lineup, he’s produced strong numbers, and Tyrese Maxey was just named an All-Star Starter yesterday. Phoenix will have their hands full with Maxey, one of the league’s best guards and leading scorers, they’ll need to find ways to limit his production to get the win.
Prediction
Suns keep the winning ways rolling. Whether Mark Williams plays or not, I don’t expect Joel Embiid to, so Philadelphia won’t have a strong advantage inside. Jalen Green’s return should give Phoenix another ball handler and fresh legs in the second half of a back-to-back. Give me the Suns in a good win.
Suns 118, 76ers 113
