Ball is life, right? That’s why you have to get up early this Sunday to catch the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns play the first leg of a back-to-back set. But before that, read on for a preview of this game.
Catch this game live on Sunday, May 16, at 2 AM, Manila time.
HOME TEAM: San Antonio Spurs (33-37, 14-20 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Patty Mills
- SG: Devin Vassell
- SF: Lonnie Walker IV
- PF: Keldon Johnson
- C: Drew Eubanks
The Spurs are hoping they could break their two-game skid this Sunday. They are coming off a 102-98 loss in Gotham to the New York Knicks last Friday, which came after a 128-116 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets Thursday.
Those losses are not reasons to view the Spurs like they’ve got the plague and stay away from them. San Antonio is among the best in the league in covering after a loss, going 21-15 against the spread in games under such circumstances.
But if the Spurs are to win and/or cover this Sunday, they will have to do so without some of their key players, as the DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl have both been ruled out for the Suns game, while Dejounte Murray is considered questionable at the present. Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell should get plenty of minutes without those players.
Vassell, in particular, came up huge in the Spurs’ 111-85 annihilation of the Suns on the road last April, as he scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field while coming off the bench. The Spurs have put up 113.0 points in their last 10 games.
ROAD TEAM: Phoenix Suns (49-21, 22-12 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Mika Bridges
- PF: Jae Crowder
- C: Dario Saric
The Suns could rest at least some of their key players, but right now, it seems like only Deandre Ayton is in danger of missing the Spurs game among the team’s regular starters. Ayton is dealing with left knee soreness and is deemed questionable this Sunday.
Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky and Dario Saric will be on standby for heavier workloads should Ayton sit out. Whatever lineup configuration the Suns will have against the Spurs should be enough to get a win, considering the quality of players San Antonio is going to play without.
Aside from that, the Suns would very much like to gain at least some semblance of momentum heading into the playoffs on top of their chance to avenge their earlier loss to the Spurs.
Chris Paul has been fantastic all season long, and he’s been extra special of late, scoring 19.0 points on 55.7 FG% and 50 3FG%, while also dropping 9.6 dimes over the last 10 games. The Suns are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games after failing to cover in the previous contest.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread:
I like how the Spurs are getting 10 points as a home team here. For one, San Antonio is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games as an underdog by at least 10 points. Take the Spurs to cover -10.
Over/Under:
Even without DeRozan, the Spurs will find enough offense to keep up with the line, while the Suns shoot better this time around than in the last meeting with San Antonio. Take the Over 224.
