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Tonight's preseason game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona for all to see - a rarity for Suns preseason basketball. Coverage starts at 7:00pm, with tipoff at 7:12.
The Opponent - Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Flamengo kicks off a three-game tour of NBA preseason against the Phoenix Suns, followed by the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies.
Flamengo is the Brazilian National League winner for the past two seasons. They recently warmed up by splitting a couple of games against fellow NBA-fodder Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Flamengo player, and Brazilian national, Marquinhos Vieira his foot in the NBA pool for New Orleans and Memphis, but has been with Flamengo since 2012. He was last year's second leading scorer (15.2) for the league champion team.
This year, the club added former NBA prospect Walter Hermann (Detroit) and Derrick Caracter (Lakers).
The Suns
The Suns will be without Alex Len today (and for the next couple of weeks, at least) because he rebroke his pinkie finger. This time it was from getting slapped by Tyler Ennis on a play under the basket. If I see him tonight, I'll ask him if he should become the team's next "Four Fingered Assassin". If Gerald can do it, why not Alex?
Anthony Tolliver won't play either. He injured his hand last week as well, getting caught in a teammate's jersey during training camp. Tolliver tore the webbing between two fingers, and will get the stitches out on Thursday.
Tough question: Should the Suns just tape all their fingers together and play the game like lobsters?
Otherwise, the team appears to be healthy. Isaiah Thomas, T.J. Warren, Tyler Ennis and Zoran Dragic should all be making their Suns debut in this game. Expect the kids to get a lot of run.
The Stats
None
The lineups
Expect the usual starting lineup for the Suns, with Markieff Morris taking Frye's old spot. Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, P.J. Tucker and Miles Plumlee will all start the game.
Key Matchup
Seriously?
The pick
These types of games never go well for the visiting team. The Suns get a chance to sweat on their game jerseys for the first time since April.
The primary starters likely won't see more than 20 minutes of action, and likely won't play that hard. It's an exhibition, so don't expect to take a whole lot away from this game.
Just enjoy the game for what it is: a chance watch the Suns play basketball.