The Warriors will get their first taste of the Suns this season on Monday night at Oracle Arena.
Warriors vs. SunsMonday, Feb. 127:30 p.m.Oracle Arena
WATCH: NBCSBA, NBA TV
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network
LAST HOME GAME BEFORE THE BREAK
A lot has been said about the Warriors looking forward to the All-Star break. Regardless of how valid that actually is, the Dubs are almost there and Monday’s game against the Suns will be the team’s last home game until the team returns from the All-Star break on Feb. 22. Tickets are still available for the game, which tips off at 7:30 p.m. Those unable to be there can watch the game on NBC Sports Bay Area and NBA TV, or catch Tim Roye with the radio call on 95.7 The Game, the Warriors Mobile App and the Warriors Radio Network. FIND TICKETS
LAST TIME OUT Klay Thompson made his first five three-point attempts and led the Warriors to a 122-105 victory over the Spurs on Saturday at Oracle Arena. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Suns are one of three teams the Dubs have yet to face this season, and they’ll soon become quite familiar with each other with four head-to-head matchups over the remainder of the season, including three in the final month of the season. The Warriors have each of their last 11 games against the Suns, and the Dubs haven’t lost to Phoenix at home since November of 2014.
LAST GAME'S STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia
PHX: Elfrid Payton, Troy Daniels, TJ Bender, Josh Jackson and Dragan Bender
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Draymond Green (sprained left index finger) is out. Patrick McCaw (sprained left thumb) is questionable. Jordan Bell (left ankle inflammation) is out. Team Notes
PHX: Tyson Chandler (neck spasm) is probable. Devin Booker (left hip pointer) and Tyler Ulis (low back) are questionable. Brandon Knight (left ACL tear) and Alan Williams (right meniscus repair) are out. Team Notes
MR. RELIABILITY
Death, taxes and as it turns out, David West entering the game in the second quarter are the only things we can be certain of in life. With the Dubs’ recent tendency to start off slow, the team has leaned on the veteran big man to steady the ship, and West has delivered way more often than not. Despite having the leagaue’s best record, the Warriors have had double digit deficits in six of their last seven games, including each of their four wins. West, along with veteran reserves Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala, are often part of the lineup that looks to lead a Warriors comeback, and they’ve been doing just that more often than not. West has been particularly effective as of late, shooting 14-for-17 from the field over the last three games. West has averaged 10.7 points during that span, and his double digit scoring generally means good things for the Dubs, who are 13-1 when he has 10 or more points.
TEAM LEADERS
PHOENIX SCOUTING REPORT
The Suns are a team with plenty of young talent, but this season hasn’t been able to put it all together. Phoenix will enter Monday’s game having lost 10 of their last 11, and on Wednesday lost by 48 points at home to the Spurs, the largest margin of defeat in franchise history. They are within a half game of having the worst record in the NBA and it doesn’t help that guard Devin Booker, the 12th leading scorer in the NBA (24.1 ppg), has missed the last three games with a left hip pointer. The Suns, however, still have some bright spots. TJ Warren had more than 20 points against the Warriors in two games last year, rookie Josh Jackson, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, is averaging 18.7 points this month, and recently acquired point guard Elfrid Payton in a deadline deal with the Orlando Magic. Payton had 19 points and nine assists in his Phoenix debut on Saturday, and there’s no question that he’ll be looking to impress more in his new surrounding. As a team, no team allows more scoring than the Suns (112.6 opponent ppg), and the Dubs, the highest scoring team in the NBA, will certainly look to exploit that.