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What: Brooklyn Nets (3-5) at Phoenix Suns (3-6)
When: 7 PM AZ Time
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
TV: Fox Sports AZ and NBA League Pass
Radio: AZ Sports 98.7FM and KSUN 1400AM (Spanish)
Positive vibes are aplenty after Wednesday night’s victory over a formidable Detroit Pistons squad. Coach Watson has preached an ethos revolving family and togetherness all season, and that mantra should only grow stronger with each passing game.
Speaking of togetherness, Brooklyn comes into Phoenix playing a smart brand of basketball under new coach Kenny Atkinson — a different tune than we were exposed to last season. Without their draft picks, it is more difficult for Brooklyn to accumulate young talent, but the addition of Jeremy Lin (suffering from a hamstring injury currently) alongside Brook Lopez and a few other heady gambles on players like Sean Kilpatrick has this team playing scrappy.
Lopez has really been the lynchpin of everything the Nets do on offense — one of only a few big men who can be thrown the ball and get two points in a variety of different ways. If Tyson Chandler remains out tonight (I wouldn’t expect him to play), it will be up to Alex Len to parlay his performance against Andre Drummond into another strong showing.
I would expect Devin Booker to get his shot going early and often now that will have had a few days to get his legs underneath him. Going against the defensively-challenged Bojan Bogdanovic should also help matters.
The Suns should win this game if they come in with a focused mindset, but this Nets team plays hard and will hang around if you let them. It will be important to get ahead early.