Game Preview: The Sun faces wizards in the nation’s capital

On By Littum

WHO: Phoenix Suns (19-20) @ Washington Wizards (6-32)

When: 5:00 PM Arizona time

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Clock: AZFamily, Suns Live

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Suns look to have an easy win tonight, perhaps one of their easiest this year. That said, you never know what type of performance Phoenix will bring out on a game-to-game basis. You need look no further than last week’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets to see why.

Playing the 6-32 Washington Wizards, Phoenix has a chance to get their record back to .500 after an embarrassing performance against Atlanta Hawks Tuesday, where the team was outscored 54-37 and 20-6 on the offensive glass.

Oh yeah, and that game was so bad that the first day they were able to trade away Josh Okogie (yesterday) they brought in a new center to help with the rebounding problem. Everyone welcomes Nick Richards to the Valley, which the Suns got for Okogie and three second-round picks.

The Kentucky product averaged 9 points and 8 rebounds this year with Charlotte; in 9 games as a starter, his points per game to 11 and rebounds up to 10. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, he is slated to start once he gets acclimated to the team. While he won’t solve all of the team’s problems, let alone their rebounding problems, his addition has the potential to be a huge help for not only point guard Tyus Jones, but Devin Booker and Kevin Durant as well.

As a veteran pick and roll player who plays alongside the crafty LaMelo Ball, Richards is a skilled roller and is athletic and nimble enough to be a lob threat that teams must respect on a possession-by-possession basis.

Likely starters

Damage report

Sun

Bradley Beal — DOUBTFUL (ankle)

Jusuf Nurkić — OUT (illness)

Wizards

Marvin Bagley III — OUT (knee)

Saddiq Bey — OUT (Knee)

Malcolm Brogdon — OUT (Foot)

Uniform Matchup

What to look for

Is the new guy in town playing tonight?

Even if he is not on the injury report, it can be difficult for players to play for their new team just one day after being traded; there’s a lot that needs to be done in a short amount of time, including all players involved having to pass a physical. While many Suns fans are eager to see the new big game for the team, they may have to wait until Saturday when the team heads up to Michigan to play Detroit Pistons.

If Bradley Beal plays, does he go out again against his former team?

Beal had his best performance of his Suns tenure last season when he returned to DC to play against his former team, putting up 43 points on just 21 shots. If he’s good to go and his ankle injury doesn’t bother him too much to play, is another Beal breakout in store?

Can Suns take care of business in a non-stressful way?

This would really be rock bottom if they lost today. In the heat of a contested playoff run midway through the year, it seems unlikely the Valley will drop this one. Not only are the Wizards 6-32, they went the entire month of November without a win. Outside of their 27-point thrashing of Los Angeles LakersPhoenix has yet to win by more than 12 points this season. With two tough games against the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers on the road, this would be an ideal time for the team to quickly take care of business and give their starters and main rotation players a break.

The key to a Suns win

Just play with effort and consistency for long stretches, watch the ball

The Suns won’t solve any of their problems tonight, regardless of the outcome of this game. If they can just take care of the basketball, get up early, not give this young Wizards team any hope and execute on both ends of the ball, they should be fine. A game like this is the type you see on the schedule that you expect to be an easy task to get the win; That being said, you never know with the Suns. As long as they don’t try to be too cute and do what they have to, winning 20 of the year today should be a no-brainer.

Forecast

While the Suns are prone to dropping a stinker, the Wizards are the worst team in the NBA. And unlike other bad teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets, both teams Phoenix has lost to this season, the Wizards don’t have the top talent to capitalize on many of the Valley’s problems. Give me the desert team on the way out.

Suns 131, Wizards 109