Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Suns try to Silence the Thunder and Acknowledge Al

By Adam Maynes

Mar 2, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns announcer Al McCoy following the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Hornets 120-103. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns announcer Al McCoy following the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Hornets 120-103. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns (19-42) v Oklahoma City Thunder (35-26)

Friday 3/3/2017 7pm
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Fox Sports Arizona/Arizona Sports 98.7FM

Season Series – Thunder lead 2-0
All-Time Series – Phoenix Leads 124-106
Last Matchup – December 17, 2016 Oklahoma City won 114-101
Suns’ Last Game – Win over the Charlotte Hornets 120-103
Thunder’s Last Game – Loss to the Portland Trailblazers 114-109
Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.3 (10th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 112.6 (29th of 30)
Thunder’s Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 106.3 (12th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 106.0 (20th of 30)

Preview

Both the Phoenix Suns and Okalahoma City Thunder played last night, although their outcomes and the stress of their individual games varied greatly – potentially playing to the advantage of the Phoenix Suns who who will be looking for the upset victory at home tonight as they honor legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Al McCoy.

The Suns played the Charlotte Hornets at home last night, and while the two teams battled for the first three periods to only a three-point spread at the start of the fourth, the Suns bench came up huge and blew the Hornet’s starters out of the water, outscoring Charotte 26-12 in the final 12 minutes. Alan Williams, Tyler Ulis, and Derrick Jones Jr. each set career-highs in several statistics, while Leandro Barbosa tied a career record with a current member of the Suns coaching staff. To read a full recap and see highlights, while also finding out what records were set last night, read here.

While the Suns were sailing last night against the Hornets the Oklahoma City Thunder were forced to gruel out a late loss in Portland where they expended far more energy than did the Suns. Russell Westbrook poured in 45 points in the losing effort, but the Thunder could not buy a basket in the waning minutes until it was too late, costing Thunder starters an opportunity to rest late, as the Suns starters had done.

Westbrook and the Thunder have had their way with the Suns in the two prior head-to-head matchups this season, with Westbrook putting up unfair, video game-like performances, averaging 38.5p/12.0r/16.0a. That was also while being guarded by P.J. Tucker.

Next: Watch a Special Interview of Al McCoy from Before this Season

Three Interesting Stats

Phoenix Suns

1. Playing a back-to-back for the 11th time this season, the Suns are currently 4-6 on the backend of such a scheduling anomaly.

2. This is the only time this season that both halves of a back-to-back occur at home. All other have and will be split between home and road, except two which are both played on the road.

3. Of the five home games played as the second game of a back-to-back so far this season, the Suns are 3-2.

More from Valley of the Suns

Oklahoma City Thunder

1. Possibly playing into the Suns’ favor, especially after such a difficult game last night and the significant travel the team undertook to get to Phoenix this morning, the Thunder are only 3-8 in the second half of a back-to-back.

2. The Thunder are 1-6 when the backend is played on the road.

3. One of the reasons for the Thunder’s struggles in those games is the struggles of Russell Westbrook whose numbers dip WAY below his seasonal stats: 30.3p/9.8r/8.0a. Well, not WAY below…

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