5 Games The Phoenix Suns Must Win To Keep Playoff Prayer Alive

By Gerald Bourguet | Mar 19, 2015

Dec 30, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) rebounds over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the second half of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

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Phoenix Suns

Dec 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

The Phoenix Suns are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. They sit three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and 2.5 games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

More than likely, Phoenix’s brutal remaining schedule — the most difficult remaining schedule in the West — will result in the fifth straight season in the lottery. And that’s before you remember the recent ankle injuries to Brandon Knight and Alex Len, or Phoenix’s 6-8 record since the All-Star break.

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Simply put, it’ll take something close to a miracle for the Suns to sneak into the postseason, even with the rash of injuries that have befallen OKC and NOLA over the last few weeks.

But the Suns believed they were a playoff team heading into the season and since they’re still technically in the hunt, giving up early is not in the modus operandi. Head coach Jeff Hornacek has been doing a good job giving the younger guys more minutes, even with Phoenix still trying to make the postseason.

Until they’re officially eliminated, the Suns will continue to fight. A look at the road ahead is cringeworthy, and the old “our next game is the most important game of the season” cliche definitely applies here.

But cliches are no fun, and some games are simply more important than others. If the NBA’s fourth youngest team has anything left in the tank, here are the five most important remaining games — in chronological order — that the Phoenix Suns NEED to win in order to keep their playoff hopes on life support. But first, one honorable mention that’s worth noting.

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