The Suns head to Denver for their season finale. The biggest reason I can think of to watch is that this is the last time you'll get to see some of these players in Suns' uniforms and the last Suns' basketball you'll be able to watch for ~6 months. That's about it. This will be a matchup between teams with reciprocal records playing a largely meaningless game, albeit for completely opposite reasons.
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When: Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 5:00 PM local time (8:00 EST)
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
Watch/Listen: TV: FSAZ, Radio: KTAR will not have the game, check AM 860
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Last Meeting:
The Nuggets won in Phoenix 108-93 on March 11th at US Airways Center. The game was actually close until Denver pulled away in the fourth quarter. Kosta Koufos led the charge with 22 points (on 10-11 shooting) and 10 rebounds. Corey Brewer added 20 points off the bench. The Suns were carried by Wesley Johnson (18 points) and Marcus Morris (16 points). Shocking that we lost based on those two providing the bulk of the scoring punch. Bewilderment abounds.
Team Bios:
Denver: 56-25
The Nuggets actually have even less to play for than the Suns, depending on one's perspective. While the Suns may still be able to improve their lottery odds with a loss, the Nuggets will either be the third or fourth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Either a Nuggets win or a Clippers loss gives Denver #3. Danilo Gallinari is out and Kenneth Faried is unlikely to play while nursing an injury. This seems like a perfect rest game, since the Nuggets will have playoff games at home to give their fans an appropriate send off.
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Phoenix Suns: 25-56
Kendall Marshall will start for the Suns tonight as Goran Dragic will sit due to injury - and this time it has been verified by Dragic that this is a legitimate injury (as opposed to the "fatigue" malarkey). Exit interviews are done and the Suns are probably looking forward to the end of this season just as much as the fans. Sometimes a good mercy killing is in order. After the brio and vim displayed by the team in its final home game, where they closed out the campaign in exemplary fashion, there is only damage to be done by a repeat effort tonight.
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What To Watch For:
Kendall Marshall? He will be making his third career start and went for double digit assists in the first two. Can he extend the streak? That's all I've got.
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2013 Lottery Watch
Real simple. If the Suns lose and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Charlotte Bobcats the two teams will split the combined lottery odds of the third and fourth positions. Either a Suns win or a Cavs loss will leave the Suns in fourth.
Real simple. The Suns need a Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Houston Rockets AND a Utah Jazz win over the Memphis Grizzlies to get the Lakers lottery pick. Not the most likely scenario considering LA is at home and Utah is on the road. The difference between #14 and #30 will be decided tonight.
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The Final Word(s):
The season has mercifully come to an end. After plodding along on their road to infamy this inferior incarnation of our once beloved Suns will never take the court again as presently constituted. Now (hopefully) comes the good part. More attrition of the malignant tumor this team has become should come in short order. Player and personnel decisions are likely to be made with haste. The draft lottery will have a level of intrigue that most Suns' fans have never experienced. The draft will be captivating. The free agency period will likely have the activity of a whirling dervish. The offseason should be a blast.
The season is finally over. Time for the fun to begin.