It’s time for the Torrey Craig Revenge Game
What: Phoenix Suns (40-16) at Milwaukee Bucks (35-21)
When: 5:00 P.M. MST **EARLY START ALERT**
Where: Fiserv Forum
Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Arizona
Listen: 98.7 FM
The Phoenix Suns had a nightmare of a game against the San Antonio Spurs. That could not have been what they were looking for as their last home game prior to flying out for this rough road stretch. In their first match, the second seed in the West visits the third team in the East in the Milwaukee Bucks.
This definitely won’t be easy. As much as the Suns are looking to bounce back and start their journey away from home off with a win, the Bucks are hoping to snap out of a four-game losing streak at home.
When these two clubs faced each other for the first time this season, Phoenix won. However, it was by a single point. So, buckle up, this should be a fun ride.
Projected Starting Lineups
Suns
Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Deandre Ayton
Bucks
Jrue Holiday, Bryn Forbes, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Injury Report
Suns – Cam Johnson: Nasal fracture – Masked man will play, Abdel Nader: Knee – Out
Bucks – Donte DiVincenzo: Toe – Out
Keys to the Game
Make threes, early and often
The Bucks allow the third-most three-pointers this season and the Suns sit at eighth in three-point percentage. Let it fly!
Phoenix has a lot of shooters and Milwaukee is a very good team so the Suns need to burn them where they can. Jevon Carter and Langston Galloway might get some extended run here as well as the masked man Cam Johnson. As much as Brook Lopez likes to step out, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Deandre Ayton take a couple as well.
Limit Giannis
This is much easier said than done. He is one of the best players in the NBA and a perennial MVP candidate. Jae Crowder will have his hands full and so will Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, and Ayton. I’m not saying they need to shut him down because frankly, that’s almost impossible. They just can’t let him get everything he wants, like his 21 free throw attempts and 47 points he dropped last time.
Let Devin Booker take control
Book has been in a bit of a funk lately and he needs to step out of it, especially as the Suns get this road trip started. Bryn Forbes is 6-foot-2 and not a lock-down defender. Devin went for 30 points against them last time. I’m all for this being the game where he snaps out of it and goes berserk.
The Verdict
Again, this is going to be a difficult matchup. These are two of the best teams in the league. As shown by the one-point decision in their last matchup, this can be a really fun game, though. The Suns haven’t lost consecutive games this season and this isn’t time to start. I see them eeking out a victory.
Suns 118 – Bucks 114