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Offseason | NBA Week 26

Suns plotting a rise at red-hot Bulls' expense

Tue Mar 18 9:41pm ET
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Phoenix superstar Devin Booker isn't wishing ill fortune on any of the teams that lie in the Suns' path for a Western Conference play-in berth.

But he's not exactly wishing them the best of luck, either, as Booker and his squad prepare for a home tilt against the in-form Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

The Suns (32-37), currently in 11th position in the West, are one win behind the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks and three games in arrears of the ninth-place Sacramento Kings.

"We need to win games," Booker said. "I'm not praying on nobody's downfall, but hopefully they (Dallas and Sacramento) lose soon and we can sneak into that 10th, maybe ninth, spot and handle business when we get there."


Booker scored 27 points Monday night as Phoenix kicked off a five-game homestand in eye-catching fashion with a 129-89 rout of the Toronto Raptors.

A 39-11 second-quarter demolition paved the path for the Suns' largest victory margin this season.

"Everybody really executed on the defensive end," Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Communication, physicality, scrambling, covering for each other ... it was good."

The Suns had 13 players hit the scoreboard, including seven who posted double digits.

Kevin Durant (26.4 points per game) and Booker (25.7) both rank among the league's top 10 scorers. The pair need to keep posting solid numbers -- what with Phoenix's third and fourth-leading scorers out injured.

Guards Bradley Beal (hamstring) and Grayson Allen (foot) missed the Toronto thrashing and will be sidelined against Chicago, too.

Josh Giddey has missed the Bulls' past three games with a sprained left ankle, but is reportedly progressing well in his recovery. The Australian is expected to return either against the Suns or the following night against the Kings, but will not play both.

Despite Giddey's absence, Chicago (29-39) has continued to make unexpected waves. The Bulls marched to their fifth win in their last six games by comfortably beating the Jazz 111-97 Monday in Utah.

Coby White had 26 points while Tre Jones enjoyed his first double-double of the season with 18 points, 12 assists and three steals. Kevin Huerter and Matas Buzelis each chipped in 17 points, Dalen Terry added 12 points and Nikola Vucevic added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

"We're staying with our identity, we're playing fast," said Jones, who played his best game since becoming a Bull as part of the three-team Zach LaVine trade in February. "We're getting stops, getting out and running and trying to wear teams out.

"We've seen it in most of our wins lately -- third, fourth quarter, we are wearing teams out and we're able to chip away. Just being able to get up and down in transition opens up the lane for me to get downhill and find guys when I get into the paint."

While Chicago has been in rich form lately, history is not on its side.

The Bulls have lost their past 10 clashes with the Suns and last tasted victory against Phoenix on March 18, 2019.

Player Notes
Brandin Podziemski Fri Apr 25 7:20pm

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (illness) is not listed on the injury report for Saturday's matchup against the Houston Rockets. Ahead of Wednesday's Game 2 of the series, Podziemski was a late addition to the report due to a stomach bug. He was upgraded from questionable to available shortly before the game started, but Podziemski logged only 14 minutes of playing time, going 0-for-5 from the field. Having Podziemski back at 100 percent would be a big boost for the Warriors. The 22-year-old sophomore began the playoffs with an impressive performance, recording 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals during a 95-85 victory in Game 1.

Jimmy Butler Fri Apr 25 7:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (pelvis) has officially been listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. On Friday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that "there's a chance he plays" after the veteran forward suffered a hard fall in Wednesday's Game 2. "I'm relatively optimistic," Kerr said. "I mean, Jimmy is Jimmy. We know he's willing to play through anything, so we'll see. I mean, this is a day-to-day thing for sure, and we'll see how he feels tomorrow, but I think there's a chance he plays." Jonathan Kuminga is expected to fill most of Butler III's minutes if he can't play on Saturday.

Jock Landale Fri Apr 25 7:00pm

Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (knee) will remain absent on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. He was seen going through drills and moving well during Friday's practice, but the team has ruled him out for a third consecutive contest. Landale's next opportunity to return will be on Monday night. However, even if he is back in the lineup, Landale is not expected to have a significant role in the rotation with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams healthy.

Jae'Sean Tate Fri Apr 25 7:00pm

Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors. The versatile veteran will be sidelined for a fifth consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Tate averaged only 11.3 minutes per game over 52 regular-season contests and is not expected to have a regular role in the rotation during the playoffs. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has mainly relied on Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams to generate production off the bench.

Jaylen Brown Fri Apr 25 6:40pm

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (knee) has been ruled available for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Brown hasn't missed any games this series and put up a strong performance in Game 2 with 36 points and 10 rebounds. He likely won't have that same level of production tonight given Jayson Tatum's return to the lineup, but fantasy managers and DFS players should expect him to have a productive night as long as confidence from Game 2 carries over.

Kevin Love Fri Apr 25 6:40pm

Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (personal) will miss Saturday's Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The veteran big man, who won the championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, remains away from the team for personal reasons. Miami's frontcourt has relied heavily on Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware recently, while Nikola Jovic also re-entered the rotation in Game 2, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds off the bench. Jovic played six more minutes than Ware and may have a significant role to fill again on Saturday.

Jrue Holiday Fri Apr 25 6:40pm

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Holiday appears to have strained his hamstring during Game 2 as he hasn't been listed on the injury report prior to today. The 34-year-old hasn't been putting up many points this series but has been facilitating well with five assists in Game 1 and six assists in Game 2. In Holiday's absence, veteran big man Al Horford will get the start. Horford also got the start in Game 2 filling in for the injured Jayson Tatum and put up nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds. With Tatum back in the lineup Horford may not grab 10 rebounds again, but he should be able to provide some small value to fantasy managers and DFS players looking to take a shot.

Terry Rozier Fri Apr 25 6:40pm

Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (ankle) will remain sidelined for Saturday's clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He sprained his left ankle at the start of the week and was unable to participate in Friday's practice. Even if he returns to the lineup for Game 4, it is not guaranteed that Rozier will see any minutes, as he has been a major disappointment for Miami this season. Duncan Robinson and Pelle Larsson filled the backup guard minutes in Wednesday's Game 2 after Davion Mitchell moved into the starting lineup.

Darius Garland Fri Apr 25 6:30pm

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 matchup against the Miami Heat. The two-time All-Star missed some time toward the end of the regular season due to a left great toe sprain and is back on the injury report with the same issue. Garland has been off to a hot start in the postseason, averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 assists while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. His absence will definitely be felt if Cleveland rules him out for the contest. Ty Jerome, who was fantastic in Game 1 with 28 points, would likely take on a larger role in the rotation without Garland.

Luke Kennard Fri Apr 25 6:30pm

Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (Achilles) is listed as questionable for Saturday's Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kennard is dealing with soreness in his right Achilles. The 28-year-old has not been very productive against the Thunder, scoring just 14 total points in 63 minutes. With Memphis fighting for their playoff lives on Saturday, and Ja Morant already ruled out, there could be a chance that Kennard sees more volume as the Grizzlies fight with desperation. However, the ceiling doesn't appear to be all that high. Fantasy managers and DFS players should be able to find better options elsewhere.

Jayson Tatum Fri Apr 25 6:30pm

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (wrist) has upgraded to available for Friday night's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic. Tatum missed Game 2 with the injury but is set to return and help the Celtics take a 3-0 lead over Orlando. The 27-year-old was underwhelming in Game 1 compared to his norms, putting up just 17 points and making just one three-pointer, though he did grab 14 rebounds. With a few days of rest under his belt, Tatum should be in much better position to make a bigger impact on Friday. Fantasy managers and DFS players should feel free to fire away and get him in their lineups.

Gary Payton II Fri Apr 25 6:30pm

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II (shoulder) has been tagged as questionable for Saturday's Game 3 against the Houston Rockets. He hurt his right shoulder during Wednesday's Game 2 loss. The defensive pest has averaged 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 14.0 minutes against the Rockets in the series. Payton II's absence from the lineup would open extra minutes for Buddy Hield. The Warriors may even consider using Pat Spencer more after his impressive 11-point effort on 5-for-7 shooting in Wednesday's game.

Rui Hachimura Fri Apr 25 6:10pm

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (face) is available for Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The listing isn't surprising as Hachimura has been able to suit up for games one and two. The 27-year-old has been consistent through the first two games of the series, averaging 10 PPG and five RPG. He logged 34 minutes in game two and should see a similar amount of minutes tonight as long as the Lakers are able to keep it close. Fantasy managers and DFS managers may be able to find better options for tonight's slate of games given the expected low-scoring game in Minnesota.

Ja Morant Fri Apr 25 6:10pm

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (hip) is not expected to be in the lineup for Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Sources have told ESPN that Morant will miss Game 4 due to the left hip injury he suffered in Thursday's Game 3 loss. Following his exit from Thursday's game, Morant was spotted on crutches in the tunnel, and he was unable to practice on Friday. Memphis received excellent minutes from Scotty Pippen Jr. in Thursday's loss, and his role is poised to grow even larger in Saturday's game. Meanwhile, Luke Kennard is anticipated to take Morant's spot in the starting lineup. The three-point specialist averaged 12.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while starting during the regular season.

Jimmy Butler Fri Apr 25 4:30pm

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (glute) was diagnosed with a deep glute contusion after his MRI didn't show any fractures or structural damage. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the six-time All-Star is in "serious jeopardy" of missing Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Butler was going up for a rebound and was undercut by Amen Thompson before falling straight on his glute/lower back, so the fact that the MRI didn't reveal any serious damage is a breath of relief for the Warriors. If he's unable to play, Jonathan Kuminga could see some big minutes again, while Quinten Post will likely see an increase in usage as well.

Jaylen Brown Fri Apr 25 4:30pm

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) was a late addition to the injury report for Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, and his status was set at questionable. He's dealing with a knee issue, which could put the Celtics shorthanded. Jayson Tatum (wrist) is considered doubtful, and Jrue Holiday (hamstring) is also listed as questionable. Brown contributed 36 points and 10 rebounds in their Game 2 victory while Tatum was sidelined, so that production is going to fall on the rest of the team if he can't suit up. Payton Pritchard would likely join the starting lineup in that case, while Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet likely see a bump in minutes as well.

Cade Cunningham Fri Apr 25 11:40am

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham collected his third consecutive double-double in the 118-116 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3. In the first postseason run of his career, Cunningham has provided some big-time stats, but has shown the youth in his game with 17 total turnovers. On Thursday, he posted 24 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and six turnovers. His shooting was a bit shaky after going 10-for-25 from the floor and 2-for-5 from deep, but Cunningham is the engine of the entire Pistons' offense in more ways than just scoring. He'll look to help the Pistons even up the series on Sunday in Game 4.

Jalen Brunson Fri Apr 25 11:20am

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson registered another 30-point game en route to a 118-116 win in Game 3 over the Detroit Pistons. The Villanova product finished the game with 30 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, one block, and one turnover. He shot 9-for-20 from the floor, 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 11-for-13 from the charity stripe. His three-point shooting has left a lot to be desired through three games (29.2%), but his ability to get to the rim and to the free-throw line has allowed him to average a red-hot 33.7 points per game. He'll look to keep up his scoring ways in Game 4 on Sunday.

Karl-Anthony Towns Fri Apr 25 11:10am

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns posted his best offensive performance of the first-round series on Thursday. The former Timberwolf registered 31 points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks while shooting 10-for-18 from the floor and 4-for-8 from three. After dropping Game 2 at home, the Knicks needed this two-point victory to gain their home-court advantage again. This game bumped Towns' averages up to 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Game 4 tips off on Sunday in Detroit before returning to New York for at least one game.

Nikola Jokic Fri Apr 25 2:00am

Nuggets' C Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds in a 83-117 loss to the Clippers on Thursday, Apr. 24.


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