The sharp-shooting Suns set upon NYC for a tilt at the Garden. The New York Knicks (9-6) are set to face the Phoenix Suns (10-6) on November 26, 2023, at Madison Square Garden.
Both teams are riding high on the vapors of victory. The Suns are fresh off a 110-89 smackdown in Memphis, while the Knicks mounted a massive comeback over the Miami Heat on Friday. The Bockers have been formidable at home, where their record this season is 4-2. Phoenix is 6-2 on the road.
Mr. Marquee, Kevin Durant, is nursing a sore foot. He last played at MSG on April 6, 2022, when he scored 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists for the Nets. He, Drew Eubanks, and Yuta Watanabe are all listed as game-time decisions for Phoenix.
The Suns will miss Kev’s production tonight if he sits, since Durant is a team-leader for points with 31.4 PPG, and second on the club for rebounds (7.1 RPG) and assists (5.5 APG). Not washed yet!
Devin Booker is the team’s second star but no second fiddle. He plastered 40 points on Memphis while shooting 15-of-21 (71%) from the floor and 3-of-4 from deep. The 27-year-old is having a career-best season in all major categories: points, boards, dimes, FG%, 3P%, FT%, and after that, I stopped reading.
Down low, Mitchell Robinson will have to contend with a new Sun, Jusuf Nurkić (6’11”, 290 lb). Acquired in the offseason, Nurk has averaged 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in 11 games versus the Knicks in his career. Those stats are on par with what he has averaged so far with Phoenix.
The Suns are the league’s third-best three-point shooting team, hitting 39% of their almost 33 attempts per game.
Durant is their downtown assassin, making 53% of his long-balls; Grayson Allen is taking five triples per game and hitting at a 48% clip; Booker makes 45% of his; and Eric Gordon makes 38% of seven attempts per game. Risk a three-point shootout against this team at your peril, Knickerbockers.
Phoenix is a top-ten offense, their defense ranks 16th in the league, and they lead the NBA in blocks per game. The Suns also give up a lot of points in the paint and can be vulnerable in individual matchups. They turn the ball over at a higher-than-average rate and dwell at the bottom of the league for fast-break points (believe it or not, New York ranks ninth for FBPS).
Projected Starters
Phoenix Suns
- Devin Booker G
- Grayson Allen G
- Eric Gordon F
- Keita Bates-Diop F
- Jusuf Nurkić C
New York Knicks
- Jalen Brunson G
- Quentin Grimes G
- RJ Barrett F
- Julius Randle F
- Mitchell Robinson C
Prediction
The Knicks might go iso-heavy in this tilt to exploit weak defenders. They would be smarter to push the pace rather than try to match the Suns shot-for-shot from deep. Since Phoenix surrenders an average of about 53 points in the paint, this presents a perfect opportunity for RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson to muscle their way to the rim. ESPN.com gives the Knicks a 58.2% chance of winning this evening. Me, too. Knicks by eight.
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