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Phoenix Suns’ 2023-24 full 82-game schedule

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 07: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns high fives Devin Booker #1 after scoring against the Denver Nuggets during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 129-124. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 07: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns high fives Devin Booker #1 after scoring against the Denver Nuggets during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 129-124. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Phoenix Suns had a disappointing end to the 2022-23 season, that saw them lose to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semi-finals. Their six game defeat coming despite some heroics from Devin Booker, who clearly went up another level.

Which makes the release of this season’s schedule an important one. The Suns completely remade their roster, and now have Bradley Beal and a whole host of veterans joining Booker and Kevin Durant for the ride.

Just as important as regular season seeding, will be making it through the games with as healthy a roster as possible. So the breakdown of the schedule is one the Suns will be pouring over intently, with players like Yuta Watanabe and Bol Bol expected to carry more of the load earlier in the campaign, before the postseason starts.

Phoenix Suns NBA regular-season schedule:

A full breakdown of the schedule can be found here, and right away some of the defining games and periods of the season jump out at you. There will be a seven game road trip in late January/early February that will tell us a lot about where this team are as a group.

Two games are missing on every schedule, and each team that fails to make it to the knockout stage of the In-Season Tournament will make up those games on December 6th and 8th.

Most eyes will be on the Suns’ marquee matchups, with the hope being that they can lay down a marker in the following games. That Christmas Day clash against the Dallas Mavericks will be interesting, because the Mavericks are emerging as the Suns’ biggest rival right now.

  • October 24, 2023 (Opening Night): at Golden State Warriors
  • October 26, 2023: at Los Angeles Lakers
  • December 25, 2023: vs Dallas Mavericks
  • March 14, 2023: at Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns NBA In-Season Tournament schedule:

The 2023-24 seasons sees the beginning of the NBA’s in-season tournament. Depending on your opinions on this, you either see it as a welcome opportunity to go all the way to Las Vegas and win the cup competition style event. Or else you see it as a monumental waste of time.

There is no doubt that the Suns should only be focused on lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy, and nothing else. But with two out of the four pool games being nationally televised (and one more on NBA TV), and with the games also counting towards the Suns’ regular season record, they are not to be taken lightly.

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About the only drawback here is if the Suns were to all the way to championship game (which will not count towards regular season record), and then watch as one of their stars get injured in the process. Health above all else is what matters during the regular season. That and head coach Frank Vogel implementing a defensive scheme that pays dividends.

  • November 10, 2023: vs Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN)
  • November 17, 2023: at Utah Jazz (ESPN)
  • November 21, 2023: vs Portland Trail Blazers
  • November 24, 2023: at Memphis Grizzlies (NBA TV)

Phoenix Suns preseason schedule:

If you can’t hang on until the regular season opener vs the Warriors in late October, there are five preseason games to get you through. Beginning on October 8, the Suns will play four different teams, with a two game series against the Portland Trail Blazers (one home and one away) to dig into.

The likes of Durant and Booker will be eased back into action, while it is possible both Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon, playing for the Bahamas in FIBA competition, will not be seen for a number of these exhibition contests.

The aim of the game here will be for coach Vogel to familiarize himself with the roster he will be overseeing. It will also be an excellent opportunity for lead assistant and holdover from the Monty Williams era, Kevin Young, to work alongside Vogel in trying to create the ideal rotations and schemes.

Although preseason action doesn’t seem important, some of the fringe players will be trying to prove their worth. That second unit that the Suns are going to build is not decided yet, and it is highly likely one of Booker, Durant or Beal will be on the court at all times with them.

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Creating four-man combinations around each of these is hugely important for the regular season, and this will be a chance for the likes of Chris Eubanks, Chimezie Metu or Bol to show that they should be playing 15-20 minutes each night.

  • October 8, 2023: at Detroit Pistons
  • October 10, 2023: vs Denver Nuggets
  • October 12, 2023: at Portland Trail Blazers
  • October 16, 2023: vs Portland Trail Blazers
  • October 19, 2023: at Los Angeles Lakers

Plenty to digest as the Suns look to win a first ever NBA championship, with the regular season and seeding as important as ever for the franchise. Talk of winning 60 games may seem premature, but this represents one of the best chances the organization have ever had to win it all.

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