Phoenix Suns (5-11) v Orlando Magic (4-10)
Friday 11/25/2016 7:00pm
Talking Stick Resort, Phoenix, AZ
Fox Sports Arizona/Arizona Sports 98.7FM
Season Series – 0-0
All-Time Series – Phoenix leads 67-35
Last Matchup – March 28, 2016 Minnesota won, 121-116
Suns’ Last Game – Win over Orlando 92-87
Timberwolves’ Last Game – Loss to New Orleans 117-96
Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: PTS/G: 106.9 (8th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 112.6 (28th of 30)
Timberwolves’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 103.5 (18th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 104.0 (15th of 30)
Preview
Phoenix Suns
The Suns defeated the Orlando Magic on Thanksgiving Eve 92-87, in a low scoring battle providing the team with several firsts on the season: The victory was the first in which the Suns won without scoring at least 100 points. It was only the second time in which the team held an opponent under 100 points, but was also the first time the team held an opponent under 90. (It should be noted, however, that it was the 11th time the Magic had been held under 100, the 8th time they had been held under 90, and on November 14, they lost to the Indiana Pacers while only scoring 69 points). The Suns held the Magic to an eerily consistent linescore of 22pts in each of the 1st through 3rd periods, and 21 in the 4th…Alex Len recorded his 5th double-double on the season, including his second in a row with 17 points and 12 rebounds…When Dragan Bender plays, he certainly contributes. Slowly working himself into a regular rotation spot, Bender received 13:04 playing time against Orlando, scoring three points (on one-for-one from the outside), grabbing four rebounds, and blocking two shots…For information on the Suns’ history on Thanksgiving Day, read here…Following the game with the Magic, the Suns remain in the top-5 in the NBA in field goals made and attempted, (though remaining at 20th in FG%), 2-pt field goals made and attempted (though they are 16th in the league in 2-pt FG%), free throws made and attempted (though they are 22nd in FT% – sensing a trend?), offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, steals, points, and fastbreak points…The Suns are expected to have the return of Tyson Chandler against the Timberwolves…In eight games on the season, Chandler is averaging 7.1 points and 12.3 rebounds. His rebound total would still rank amongst the best in Suns history, third best overall…Devin Booker’s inconsistency has plagued he and the Suns this season. Following his 30 point game in the loss to Washington, Booker scored only 11 in the win over Orlando. He is currently averaging 19.3 points per game on the year, but if the three 30 point games were subtracted from his totals, he would be averaging only 15.25, a half a point better than his season average last year…
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota does not shoot many three’s (they are 26th in the NBA), but they make the ones they take at a pretty good clip. The team is shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc, the 7th best percentage in the league…Without Nikola Pekovic for the season, Minnesota is near the bottom in the league in rebounding at 26th in total rebounds and 29th in defensive rebounds. They are, however, 7th overall in offensive rebounds…Andrew Wiggins leads the team in scoring at 23.9 points per game. Karl-Antony Towns, who is averaging 21.3 points per game and 9.4 rebounds, has seven double-doubles on the season, and fell just one point shy of another on Wednesday night against the Pelicans…The ‘Wolves traveled 1279 miles to meet the Suns tonight. In their last three trips of over 1,000 miles, they are 1-3, their only victory in Orlando on November 9…Minnesota is a very quick starter, especially compared to the Suns. The Timberwolves are 4th in the league in 1st quarter scoring, averaging 29 points in the first quarter. The Suns are 26th in the league with 24.4. Minnesota continues the early scoring trend with 29.5 points in the 2nd quarter, good for 3rd in the league, compared to the Suns’ 25.3, which is 18th overall. If the Suns are at least close to the ‘Wolves at halftime, it is the 3rd quarter where they can pull away. The Suns jump all the way to third in the league in 3rd quarter scoring with 28.9 points, while Minnesota is dead last at 19.9. The teams are virtually even in the 4th quarter with the Suns averaging 26.2 and the Timberwolves averaging 25.1, 12th and 15th, respectively…With those stats in mind, Minnesota’s halftime spread is +4.7 on the road, where as the Suns are -5 at home. The second half is a completely different story as Minnesota is last in the league in second half spread at -13.7 on the road, and the Suns are 20th at home at -2.6…
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