PHOENIX vs SACRAMENTO
When: 12/26/2020 10:00 PM
Where:

TV: 10:00 PM
LINE: 3.5
PREDICTION: SACRAMENTO , PHOENIX

Oddsmakers currently have the SACRAMENTO listed as 3.5 point favorites versus the PHOENIX, while the game’s total is sitting at 228.5.

The Sacramento Kings haven’t made the playoffs over the past 14 seasons, and the Phoenix Suns have gone 10 seasons without qualifying for the postseason.

But one long-suffering franchise will get off to a 2-0 start in the 2020-21 season, as the Suns and host Kings square off Saturday night in the first of back-to-back matchups in the California capital.

The Kings posted a dramatic 124-122 overtime win over the host Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, while Phoenix held off the Dallas Mavericks for a 106-102 home win on the same night.

Sacramento was trying to prevent losing in overtime when Harrison Barnes stole the ball from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic in the final seconds. Barnes drove and missed a contested shot, but Buddy Hield tipped the ball in at the buzzer for the victory.

Hield then raced down the court and into the tunnel leading to the locker room with his teammates in pursuit.

It capped a strong effort from Hield, who made five 3-pointers while scoring a team-best 22 points. Barnes and DeAaron Fox each added 21 points for the Kings.

Overall, Sacramento had seven players score in double digits. One of them was first-round draft pick Tyrese Haliburton, who had 12 points and four assists in 30 minutes off the bench to help fuel the win.

“I hope it says we’re hungry,” Haliburton said after the triumph. “Hungry to get Sacramento back where they belong and just win games. Guys that have been here are tired of not winning as much as they expect to and us young guys are just trying to bring young blood, new blood here and get Sacramento back to their winning ways.”

Fox was among the players highly impressed with the 20-year-old Haliburton, who was the 12th overall choice from Iowa State.

“He didn’t get rattled,” Fox said of Haliburton. “He makes big shots, we know he can shoot the ball. For me, if someone steps in defensively, my first instinct is to kick it out. We all have the utmost confidence in him to make big plays.”

Phoenix also played well down the stretch of its win over Dallas. The score was tied at 100 before the Suns scored five straight points, capped by Devin Booker’s jumper with 40.2 seconds left en route to the victory.

Booker scored 22 points in his initial backcourt pairing with 10-time All-Star Chris Paul, who was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the offseason.

Paul, who has been nursing an ankle injury, was quiet for most of the contest. He had just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes. He also had five assists and committed three turnovers.

However, Paul knocked down a big shot with 1:20 to play to push Phoenix ahead by three prior to Booker’s basket.

“I like guys who are willing to take the shots,” Suns coach Monty Williams said afterward. “And we’ve got a few guys who will take those shots. Booker and CP have been in those situations before.”

Mikal Bridges added 18 points and was among the Phoenix players — as well as Williams — who cited the team’s 19 turnovers as something that needs to be reduced. Booker committed eight.

“It’s confidence,” Bridges said. “We know what we can do on the other end offensively. We have the guys for it. Once we know we get stops, and we’re just like, ‘Alright, we’re missing shots that we work on, some turnovers that we gotta clean up’ but as long as we’re out there guarding and helping each other out, that’s going to be the key for our success: just keep defending as a team.”

The teams split four meetings last season.

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LA LAKERS vs PHOENIX
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: Lakers 112, Suns 111

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the LA LAKERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 219.

The Los Angeles Lakers saw their seven-game winning streak snapped and now look to get back on the winning side of the ledger when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. The Lakers were outclassed Sunday by a Toronto team missing point guard Kyle Lowry (thumb) and forward Serge Ibaka (ankle) while succumbing at home 113-104 to the Raptors.

Forwards Anthony Davis (27 points) and LeBron James (13 points, 15 assists, 13 rebounds) weren’t able to prevent Los Angeles’ first loss since its season opener as short-handed Toronto overwhelmed the club 61-44 in the second half. “We’re not a complacent team, we’re kind of even keel,” James told reporters afterward. “Obviously, we hate to lose but they were the better team and we just move on to the next one. We’ll see (Monday) how we can get better in the film session. There are still ways for us to be better and we know that.” The Suns are 2-1 on a six-game homestand and rolled to a convincing 138-112 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday as the home fans serenaded star shooting guard Devin Booker (27 points) with MVP chants. “It is nice to hear,” Booker told reporters afterward. “I am more excited about the fans having something to cheer for, us playing winning basketball and competitive basketball every night. That has been the fun part.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Arizona

ABOUT THE LAKERS (7-2): Los Angeles was just 10-of-30 from 3-point range while scoring fewer than 105 points for the fifth time in nine games and Davis noted that the lack of punch is becoming a problem. “We’ve got to get our offense clicking,” Davis told reporters. “We’ve got to be able to score a little bit more, just for nights when our defense might not be there or they are making tough shots.” James (5-of-15) and swingman Danny Green (0-for-5 while going scoreless) were the biggest culprits against the Raptors, who also forced Davis into five of the club’s 12 turnovers.

ABOUT THE SUNS (6-3): Phoenix racked up 37 assists against just seven turnovers while recording a season high for points and 3-pointers (19) in the win over Brooklyn and point guard Ricky Rubio fueled the onslaught with season bests of 22 points and 12 assists and no turnovers. “We moved the ball. We played super unselfish, that is super fun to play,” said Rubio, who joined the team as a free agent and is providing a ball-handling presence the Suns have lacked in recent seasons. Rubio has 10 or more assists in three of his eight appearances while Booker went 4-for-5 from 3-point range.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Lakers went 3-1 against the Suns last season.

2. Phoenix SF Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18 points against the Nets and has reached double digits in all nine games.

3. Los Angeles PG Rajon Rondo (calf) is questionable to make his season debut.

PREDICTION: Lakers 112, Suns 111

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PHOENIX SUNS vs SAN ANTONIO SPURS
When: 8:30 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas

TV: 8:35 PM
LINE: -11.5
PREDICTION: SAN ANTONIO , PHOENIX

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN ANTONIO listed as -11.5 point favorites versus the PHOENIX, while the game’s total is sitting at 217.

Gregg Popovich looks to move into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time coaching victories list when the San Antonio Spurs host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Popovich’s 1,210 career wins tie him for fourth with Pat Riley, and he is just 11 triumphs behind Jerry Sloan for third place.

San Antonio has won consecutive games and is aiming to get back to .500 against a lowly Phoenix team that has split this season’s two meetings. “We just need to keep building on the last two games no matter who the next opponent is,” Spurs guard Patty Mills told reporters. “This time, it just happens to be Phoenix, but our focus has to be on continuing to build on the way that we are playing.” The Suns have dropped nine straight games after suffering a 123-119 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and are a porous 1-12 on the road. Shooting guard Devin Booker will sit out his fifth consecutive contest due to a hamstring injury.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE SUNS (4-23): Rookie center Deandre Ayton, who has been a bright spot during a miserable start to the campaign, recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to the Clippers. The double-double was the 15th of the season for the No. 1 overall draft pick, who has made 17-of-25 shots over his last two games. Rookie forward Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 19 points on Monday for his second straight double-digit effort since the infamous incident on Thursday, when he tried to avoid Igor Kokoskov as the coach attempted to provide feedback during a loss to Portland.

ABOUT THE SPURS (13-14): San Antonio is playing the third contest of its six-game homestand and was sharp while winning each of the first two contests – against the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah – by 13 points. The strong performances followed a stretch during which the Spurs dropped four of five games, with three of the losses being by more than 30 points. “The last couple of games, we looked better at the defensive end,” Popovich told reporters. “More communication, a little more understanding. Guys get used to playing with each other and understanding what the process is for the way we want to play. I think it’s sinking in, so we’ll see if it continues.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Suns have lost their last nine visits to San Antonio.

2. Spurs backup F Davis Bertans (personal reasons) likely will miss his second straight game.

3. Phoenix SF T.J. Warren (ankle) returned from a five-game absence against the Clippers but played just 12 minutes before being ejected, while backup SG Jamal Crawford (knee) probably will sit out his second consecutive contest.

PREDICTION: Spurs 113, Suns 89

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LA CLIPPERS vs PHOENIX SUNS
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Monday, December 10, 2018
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE: 11
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , LA CLIPPERS

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 11 point favorites versus the LA CLIPPERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 220.

The Phoenix Suns dropped their last eight games and own the worst record in the NBA while trying to build a young team. The Los Angeles Clippers, who visit the Suns on Monday, are battling through a tough stretch of their own after dropping the last two contests.

Phoenix’s last six losses came by double figures and the team is fighting through injuries to its top two scorers – Devin Booker (hamstring) and T.J. Warren (ankle). “Not good,” Suns first-year coach Igor Kokoskov told reporters. “It’s hard. If you feel good about losing games, then you’re in the wrong place, wrong spot, but it doesn’t really matter from the point of view that we focus on our job. It has to be done. There’s really no time to rest. Just regroup. Focus forward and encourage guys.” The Clippers went into an offensive slump in the last two games, failing to score 100 points in either contest, and are coming off a 121-98 home loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday. Los Angeles was blitzed 30-8 in the fourth quarter of that contest and coach Doc Rivers was ejected after getting hit with a pair of technical fouls.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (16-9): Los Angeles was sitting atop the Western Conference before dropping three of its last four games and is struggling to get consistent scoring from forwards Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari. Harris, who leads the team at an average of 21 points, was held to eight on 2-of-13 shooting in a 96-86 loss at Memphis on Wednesday while Gallinari, who averages 18.8 points, combined to shoot 8-of-25 from the floor in the last two contests. Sixth man Lou Williams is slumping as well and went a combined 8-of-24 from the floor in the last two games.

ABOUT THE SUNS (4-22): Phoenix scored nine points in the first quarter of losses to Sacramento and Portland on Tuesday and Thursday and at least managed to get off to a good start before falling off in Friday’s 115-98 setback to the Heat. “The effort was definitely there tonight,” Suns swingman Josh Jackson told reporters after the latest setback. “What I was more excited about was that it was there from the beginning and didn’t take us taking a punch and realizing, ‘Oh we’re in a fight now and we’ve got to play.'” Rookie small forward Mikal Bridges scored 12 points on Friday, one night after a sideline exchange with Kokoskov went viral.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns SG Troy Daniels is averaging 15.3 points over the last three games, boosting his season mark to 7.7.

2. Clippers PF Mike Scott is 1-of-9 from 3-point range over the last two games.

3. Los Angeles took the last nine meetings, including a 115-99 victory at home on Nov. 28.

PREDICTION: Clippers 106, Suns 96

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MIAMI HEAT vs PHOENIX SUNS
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Friday, December 7, 2018
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , MIAMI

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 7.5 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 209.5.

The Miami Heat have picked the right place to open a six-game road trip as they square off with the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Miami has prevailed in 15 of its last 16 meetings with the Suns, who enter the contest with a seven-game losing streak that matches its worst of the season.

The Heat are a disappointing five games below .500 and have lost nine of their last 13, and veteran guard Dwyane Wade views the lengthy trek as a pivotal time for the team. “We’re just trying to find our identity, and we’re having our ups and downs throughout the year,” Wade told reporters. “To go on a long road trip, it can make you or break you, or it’ll pull you together. We’re hoping that on this road trip, we’ll be able to play some good basketball, put some good games together, come out of this trip even more confident.” The Suns own the worst record in the NBA as Thursday’s 108-86 loss to Portland was their sixth by double digits during the seven-game slide. Phoenix scored just nine first-quarter points for the second straight game and has lost by an average of 15.6 points during its skid.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Miami), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE HEAT (9-14): Goran Dragic (knee) has practiced with the team on back-to-back days and could be set to return after missing the last eight games. “He’s doing a lot better,” coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after Thursday night’s practice in Phoenix. “He’s making progress. We’re really excited about his last week of work.” The All-Star is averaging just 16.3 points in 12 games this season but has been greatly hindered by the sore right knee, which was drained of fluid 2 1/2 weeks ago.

ABOUT THE SUNS (4-21): Phoenix will be without Devin Booker (hamstring) for the third straight game and T.J. Warren (ankle) for a fifth consecutive contest, and the team is having trouble competing without them. The Suns were manhandled by Portland and trailed by 25 points after the opening quarter, but coach Igor Kokoskov isn’t interested in excuses. “We are missing Book, we are missing T.J. Warren, this is a challenging time for us as a team,” Kokoskov told reporters after the loss. “We are starting a young group, three rookies in the starting lineup. This is the NBA. Nobody asks you who you are starting. Put five people on the court and compete and play.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Heat averaged 125.5 points in last season’s two victories over the Suns.

2. Phoenix F Richaun Holmes is 45-for-64 over his last 11 games and shooting 64.9 percent for the season.

3. Miami C Hassan Whiteside didn’t travel with the team due to the expected birth of his child and SG Wayne Ellington (personal reasons) also didn’t board the team plane.

PREDICTION: Heat 115, Suns 103

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PHOENIX SUNS vs LA LAKERS
When: 3:30 PM  ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 3:35 PM
LINE: -11
PREDICTION: LA LAKERS , PHOENIX

Oddsmakers currently have the LA LAKERS listed as -11 point favorites versus the PHOENIX, while the game’s total is sitting at 222.5.

The Los Angeles Lakers are winners of back-to-back games and can clinch a winning four-game homestand when they host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Lakers, who knocked off Indiana and Dallas in the last two games, are getting strong performances from the supporting cast around superstar LeBron James.

James recently acknowledged that he is struggling with when to dominate games and when to defer to his teammates and found the right balance on Friday, when he scored 28 points to lead six scorers in double figures. “We have the ability to be able to have multiple guys put the ball in the basket, but when it comes, it comes with our ball movement and the way we play with pace,” James told reporters. “That was the result of it tonight.” The Suns don’t have the same type of balance on offense and managed just 85 points with Devin Booker and TJ Warren sidelined in a loss to Orlando on Friday. Booker (foot) and Warren (ankle) average a combined 42.2 points and are both day-to-day.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE SUNS (4-18): Phoenix rookie center Deandre Ayton scored 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting in Friday’s setback and felt the team should have been able to win even with Booker and Warren out. “We’ve just got to find a way to finish these games,” Ayton told reporters. “…Everybody’s competing. Try to go back and look at some of the numbers. It’s kind of confusing because I’m like, I know everybody was playing hard today, but we still lose.” Ayton is averaging 16.5 points on 61.2 percent shooting and 10.2 rebounds.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (13-9): Kyle Kuzma is trying to find his role in James’ offense and looked comfortable on Friday, when he collected 15 points to go with season highs of 12 rebounds and six assists. Small forward Brandon Ingram is picking up his level of play as well and is averaging 17.6 points over the last five contests after springing for 19 in the win over the Mavericks. Kuzma and Ingram are also key parts of a defensive effort that held Dallas to 39.5 percent shooting.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Lakers C Tyson Chandler, who was signed after being waived by Phoenix, recorded his first double-double since joining Los Angeles with 13 points and 12 rebounds on Friday.

2. Suns SG Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 18 points in 31 minutes off the bench on Friday.

3. James recorded 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a 131-113 win at Phoenix on Oct. 24.

PREDICTION: Lakers 113, Suns 97

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PHOENIX SUNS vs OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Monday, November 12, 2018
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA CITY , PHOENIX

Oddsmakers currently have the OKLAHOMA CITY listed as 8.5 point favorites versus the PHOENIX, while the game’s total is sitting at 217.

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a bit of a letdown at Dallas on Saturday, watching a seven-game winning streak come to an end in a sub-par defensive performance. The Thunder will try to right themselves at home and get back in the win column when they host the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Oklahoma City built up enough confidence during the winning streak that it was able to easily brush aside the rare off night on Saturday, in which it shot 39.2 percent while allowing the Mavericks to go off at 55.8. “It’s one game. We’re playing good basketball,” Paul George told reporters. “Tonight wasn’t our night, but it doesn’t take away the games that we’ve had over the whole course of the last eight games. We’re still in high spirits. We still have a positive group moving forward. It didn’t do anything to our confidence.” The Suns dropped their last three games and 10 of the last 11, including a 117-110 setback at the Thunder on Oct. 28. “Stick with it, stay together,” Phoenix small forward TJ Warren told reporters after the most recent loss, a 119-99 setback at New Orleans on Saturday. “Everything is not going to be pretty, but we’ve just got to fight through the adversity. Keep staying together.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE SUNS (2-10): Phoenix is breaking in No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton, and the 20-year-old center is already stepping into a role as a team leader. “I just think we’re too cool sometimes,” Ayton told reporters after Saturday’s setback. “I think we need a wake-up call. Just be straight forward and say we’ve got a lot of building to do. Once we look in the mirror and just say we have a lot of work to do, we’re not that good.” Ayton recorded his third straight double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday and is averaging 16.1 points on 60.4 percent shooting and 10.9 rebounds.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (7-5): Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook missed the last three games with an ankle injury and remains day-to-day, leaving the team without its most dynamic playmaker. The Thunder made up for the loss by turning it up at the defensive end in wins over Cleveland and Houston but struggled to defend the 3-point line in Saturday’s setback. “The biggest difference was obviously the 3-point shooting,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters.” They shot it really well, and we had our opportunities and didn’t shoot particularly well. They made some timely shots when we were making runs. Give them credit for doing that.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Thunder PG Dennis Schroder is averaging 20.3 points while starting in place of Westbrook in the last three contests.

2. The Suns went 19-of-20 from the free-throw line in Saturday’s loss.

3. Oklahoma City stretched its winning streak in the series to three straight with the 117-110 win on Oct. 28.

PREDICTION: Thunder 113, Suns 96

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PHOENIX SUNS vs NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Saturday, November 10, 2018
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: -9.5
PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS , PHOENIX

Oddsmakers currently have the NEW ORLEANS listed as -9.5 point favorites versus the PHOENIX, while the game’s total is sitting at 227.5.

The New Orleans Pelicans snapped their slide at six straight and could be primed for a surge. The Pelicans will try to make it back-to-back wins when they take on another team towards the bottom of the standings in the visiting Phoenix Suns.

New Orleans surrendered an average of 123.7 points during the six-game slide but held the Chicago Bulls to 39.6 percent from the floor in a 107-98 triumph at home on Wednesday. “It was good for us to get back into the win column,” Pelicans star forward Anthony Davis told reporters. “I think we did a good job defensively. We battled. Jrue (Holiday) did an excellent job on Zach (LaVine). He made some tough shots, but we just went out there and competed and tried to protect home court.” The Suns completed a 1-4 homestand with a 116-109 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday but came away with positive feelings despite squandering a 22-point lead. “I am proud,” Phoenix rookie center Deandre Ayton told reporters after the loss. “I’m not sad about this game or moping. I think we did pretty good. If we can play like that, we’ll beat a lot of teams in this league.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE SUNS (2-9): Shooting guard Devin Booker called out his teammates after a 104-82 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, imploring them to get on each other and hold each other accountable, and Ayton thinks the message was delivered. “Everybody was encouraging each other, but like in the most harshest way,” Ayton told reporters after Thursday’s setback. “We’re all here for one job and that’s what we did today. Stuff happens. Out of all the Ls we took, I’d rather lose like this. I know we battled. So, I can go to sleep at night.” Booker did his part with 38 points and nine assists against the Celtics and is averaging 26.5 points.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (5-6): Davis missed three games during the slide with an elbow injury and went 18-of-49 from the floor in the other three contests while topping out at 12 rebounds. The All-Star turned things around on Thursday and finished with 35 points on 13-of-24 shooting while adding 15 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks. “It felt good,” Davis told reporters of his performance. “I was thinking too much and wasn’t playing like myself and playing how I usually play. Coach brought me in and talked to me a little bit to get me back to being me.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pelicans PG Elfrid Payton (ankle) sat out the last six games but could return on Saturday.

2. Phoenix SF TJ Warren scored a season-high 29 points on Thursday.

3. New Orleans is enjoying a six-game winning streak in the series.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 128, Suns 115

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BOSTON CELTICS vs PHOENIX SUNS
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Thursday, November 8, 2018
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE: 9.5
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , BOSTON

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 9.5 point favorites versus the BOSTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 211.5.

The road trip isn’t going so well for the Boston Celtics, and the frustration is starting to show. Kyrie Irving and company will try to keep their focus on their own issues on the court and avoid a three-game slide when they Celtics visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

The Celtics dropped a 102-101 heartbreaker at Indiana to begin the five-game trip and fell 115-107 at Denver on Monday in a game that was most notable for Nuggets guard Jamal Murray scoring 48 points and Irving getting upset when he tried for 50 in the final seconds. “There’s a tradition and a respect within the league, as well as in any basketball game,” Irving, who was fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing the ball into the stands after the game, told reporters. “Obviously, you’ve won the game, you have it sealed, you’ve had a great game, game of your life, and you do something like that, it’s just … it’s petty. It’s immature.” The Suns have their own guard capable of dropping 50 points in Devin Booker, but he is more concerned with his young team building some cohesion. “I think all good teams have that trust and chemistry, where they’re able to get on each other and know that it’s for a better purpose,” Booker told reporters. “For us, I don’t think we have that right now. We’re not comfortable with each other, we don’t step on each other’s toes, we don’t push each other, and I think that’s what we need to do.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (6-4): Boston held a 10-point edge after the first quarter in Indiana and enjoyed a 15-point cushion after the first period in Denver, only to take a tumble in the second. “We just got to keep doing what it takes to win, like the stuff that gets us our lead, we have to maintain,” Celtics guard Jaylen Brown told reporters. “We can’t start wavering after we get a big lead. We’ve got to keep hitting them in the mouth. We let our foot off the gas, we lose.” Irving’s saltiness after the Denver loss had little to do with his own performance after he matched a season-high 31 with points on 13-of-17 shooting in 34 minutes.

ABOUT THE SUNS (2-8): Booker scored a team-high 25 points in a 102-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday that snapped a seven-game slide but needed 21 shots to reach 20 points in a 104-82 loss at home to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. “We thought last game would be our step forward,” Booker told reporters after the loss. “We definitely took a step back tonight. We didn’t protect home court, came in here and got blown out in front of our fans. It’s embarrassing.” Booker is trying to build chemistry with No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton, who collected 15 points and 13 rebounds for his sixth double-double on Tuesday but struggled to 6-of-17 from the floor.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics PF Marcus Morris went 0-of-4 from 3-point range on Monday after going 18-of-29 from beyond the arc in the previous five contests.

2. Phoenix PF Richaun Holmes recorded his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench on Tuesday.

3. Boston took the last three and six of the last seven in the series.

PREDICTION: Celtics 126, Suns 115

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BROOKLYN NETS vs PHOENIX SUNS
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , BROOKLYN

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the BROOKLYN, while the game’s total is sitting at 219.5.

The Phoenix Suns missed Devin Booker when he wasn’t in the lineup and look to post a second straight win when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Booker drained the decisive shot in Sunday’s 102-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies to end Phoenix’s seven-game slide.

The star shooting guard missed three games with a hamstring injury before returning for Friday’s loss against the Toronto Raptors and looked on his game Sunday when he scored 25 points and hit the game-winning shot with 1.7 seconds remaining. “It’s new life around here,” Booker told reporters. “New energy. You see a lot of smiles. Hopefully, we like this feeling and want to come out and play that much harder versus Brooklyn.” The Nets are just 1-4 on the road as they begin a stretch in which they play four straight and seven of nine in enemy venues. Brooklyn is coming off a strong performance in which it rolled to a 122-97 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE NETS (4-6): Forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson enjoyed his top offensive performance of the season against Philadelphia by scoring 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Hollis-Jefferson is just finding his stride after missing all of the preseason due to an adductor strain and anything he provides offensively is a bonus as he typically makes a big impact on the defensive end. “Whatever he adds on the offensive end or wherever else, I think that’s just the cherry on top,” point guard D’Angelo Russell told reporters. “But he’s always going to be that work hard, scrappy guy, make the play, but he has offensive skills as well. I think he’s falling into his rhythm. He needed that game just to get that confidence right.”

ABOUT THE SUNS (2-7): Rookie forward Mikal Bridges contributed 14 points in the win over Memphis, two games after scoring a season-high 16 against the San Antonio Spurs. Bridges has played more than 20 minutes in four of the past five games and is carving himself a role while impressing his teammates. “I love being on the floor with him,” Booker told reporters. “He does everything it takes to win. He spaces the floor, he defends, he’s long and lanky, he has really good instincts that not a lot of people have and he’s well-coached at Villanova. They know how to win.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nets have won five of the past six meetings.

2. Brooklyn SG Caris LeVert has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games and six times overall this season.

3. Phoenix waived C Tyson Chandler after agreeing to a buyout of his contract.

PREDICTION: Suns 114, Nets 111

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