The Phoenix Suns are playing great basketball right now and they’re simply must-see TV. They certainly look good against the banged-up Philadelphia 76ers, who are getting bit hard by the injury bug. The battle takes place at 430 AM Manila Time on August 12.
HOME TEAM: Philadelphia 76ers (42-28)
The Sixers snapped their three-game winning streak on Sunday after bowing to the Portland Trail Blazers, 124-121. The supporting cast played well, but with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid both out, and Damian Lillard going off for 51 points, they just ran out of gas.
Simmons is possibly out for the season and Embiid is still likely to sit, so the other guys will have to continue stepping up.
Philly’s number two scorer, Tobias Harris, will be eyed to pick up the slack. He’s averaging 22.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the bubble. Co-starter Josh Richardson should produce too, as he’s the first one to rise to the occasion, scoring a season-high 34 points on 13-for-20 shooting against the Blazers.
Journeyman and new first-year Alec Burks may continue his assertiveness as well. He’s had back-to-back 20-point games after Simmons went out.
ROAD TEAM: Phoenix Suns (32-39)
It’s everyone’s new favourite team! How can anyone not watch the Suns right now, though? They are an energetic bunch with a rising All-Star that’s just scoring at will.
Phoenix has racked up six-straight victories in the bubble while putting up 120 PPG and winning by an average of 11 points. The opponents weren’t pushovers too as the last five are all playoff teams.
As always, it’s aggressive scorer Devin Booker that’s leading the way. The 23-year-old is unloading 30.3 PPG and shooting over 50% in six bubble appearances. He also dropped 40 points on a smooth, 15-for-19 shooting in his last encounter with the Sixers, and the Suns won, 114-109.
Second-year big man DeAndre Ayton (16.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG) is just okay-at-best since restart but Phoenix fortunately getting is solid contributions from everywhere. Outside Booker and Ayton, five other Suns are averaging in double figures since the restart – Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Cameron Payne.
PREDICTIONS:
Look for Booker to score big again, but expect the long-armed swingmen of the Sixers to be extra ready as well. The lesser-known guys from both sides are an interesting watch too – Burks and Milton on Philly’s side; Johnson and Bridges from Phoenix’s.
In the end, though, I think the Suns have too much momentum on their hands to lose, especially since the Sixers are depleted. They should be able to get this, 116-110.
