The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder meet Sunday with the standings already showing how different their seasons have been. Oklahoma City is 64-17 and first in the Western Conference, while Phoenix sits seventh at 44-36.
The injury report, though, is the bigger storyline entering tipoff at Paycom Center. Phoenix lists Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Dillon Brooks, and Royce O’Neale out, while Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jalen Green, Haywood Highsmith, and Mark Williams are all questionable.
Booker’s absence is the most damaging for the Suns because he leads the team with 26.1 points and 6.0 assists per game. Allen, who averages 16.5 points, and Brooks, who contributes 20.2 points, are also major scoring losses, leaving Phoenix short on perimeter shot creation.
The Suns still have several late decisions to monitor. Gillespie has been a steady secondary handler at 12.7 points and 4.6 assists per game, Goodwin brings energy and defense, Green gives the roster another 17.8-point scorer, Highsmith affects the wing rotation, and Williams supplies the team’s best interior finishing and rebounding at 8.0 boards per game.
Oklahoma City’s report is even deeper, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Joe, Ajay Mitchell, Thomas Sorber, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, and Jaylin Williams all out. Alex Caruso is also resting, removing another key defensive piece.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team with 31.1 points and 6.6 assists, Holmgren adds 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, and Jalen Williams is averaging 17.1 points and 5.5 assists, so Oklahoma City is missing most of its top-end production.
The Thunder beat the Clippers 128-110 on April 8 before falling 127-107 at Denver on April 10, while Phoenix has split its last two games with a 112-107 win over Dallas and a 101-73 loss at the Lakers.
The season series also favors Oklahoma City, which leads 3-1. The Thunder won three of the four meetings by comfortable margins, including a 138-89 blowout in December and a 136-109 result in February.
