Game Preview: The Suns and their new starting lineup battle the Sixers in Philly

On By Littum

WHO: Phoenix Suns (15-18) @ Philadelphia 76ers (14-19)

When: 5:00 PM Arizona time

Where: Wells Fargo Center — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Clock: NBA TV, AZFamily, Suns Live

Listen: KMVP 98.7

So yes, things are heating up in the valley. We don’t have Woj bombs anymore, but respected longtime journalist Chris Haynes had a big scoop last night; Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkić on the bench for tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee taking their place.

He also reported that “players are unsure of their roles and frustrated with how they are being used.” This is the first report with a strong indication that not only is the team struggling on the field, but inside the dressing room there are also tensions.

This is also the first report of a starting lineup change in an attempt to revive their season. It feels like a long time ago now, but at one point the team was 8-1 and had the number 1 seed in the West; how far the team has fallen.

Since the Sixers are a team that has had their own struggles this season, Phoenix will look to get their first win of 2025 in the second game of their three-game road trip.

Likely starters

Damage report

Sun

  • Royce O’Neale — OUT (ankle sprain)

Sixes

  • Joel Embiid — Doubtful (Foot sprain and sinus fracture)
  • Kyle Lowry — Doubtful (hip soreness)
  • KJ Martin — OUT (Foot Stress Reaction)
  • Jared McCain — OUT (meniscus surgery)
  • Pete Nance — OUT (G League)
  • Kelly Oubre Jr. — Doubtful (hand sprain)

Uniform Matchup

What to watch out for

The impact of the starting line-up change

Yes, he’s having a bad year, but Bradley Beal off the bench is one of the best bench scorers in the league. He played alongside his former teammate when he was on Washington Wizards Monté Morris, Beal is positioned to get good looks against inferior defenders relative to his abilities.

Likely to match up with Andre Drummond on most possessions, Jusuf Nurkić will face a similar opponent: a strong rebounder who struggles against athletic bigs.

With Dunn replacing Beal in the starting lineup, Phoenix is ​​now more equipped to guard Philadelphia’s wings. If Dunn is able to defend at a high level, even if he continues to struggle with his shot (he’s shooting 30.2 percent from three), he can take the load off Durant and Booker on the defensive end.

Going up against MVP Joel Embiid, Plumlee will have a tough task in his start tonight. But like Dunn, he’s a better defender than the person he replaces in the starting lineup. If he can somehow at least make Embiid work for his offense, that would be another reason for the Suns to stick with their drastic change.

The key to a Suns win

Devin and Kevin, be special

The sun is stuck in the mud right now. While the changes to the starting lineup can help, what really helps the most in crunch time as the Suns approach is great play from your best players. As crazy as it sounds, Phoenix is ​​actually not that bad when both Booker and KD are in the lineup. The team boasts a 13-5 record when both play.

Despite having a disappointing year filled with injuries and unexpected chaos, the Sixers are 10-5 since December 1st. Paul George, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are starting to look like the elite big three that many imagined would start the year, and for Phoenix to hold their own against them, they need their stars to play great.

Forecast

The lineup change brings more balance to Valley’s lineup and puts less pressure on the bench to generate offense with a capable scorer like Beal now leading it. Philly is just 5-9 at home this year, and the level of urgency created by the lineup change will carry the Suns to a much-needed win.

Suns 114, Sixers 108