This is a crucial NBA matchup in the West Group B of the Emirates NBA Cup. The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder have both been hit with recent injuries, but that shouldn’t affect their goals this season. Kevin Durant of the Suns and Chet Holmgren of the Thunder will both miss several weeks, but there is still tons of superstar talent on the court. Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have quite the battle on the outside, and the Thunder are slight favorites on the NBA odds. The second season of the NBA Cup (formerly the in-season tournament) will draw millions of eyes to the court after a successful first year. The expert picks and NBA predictions for the Suns vs Thunder matchup are ready for the big game.
Matchup: Suns vs Thunder Overview
- Teams: Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
- Date: Friday, November 15th, 2024
- Time: Tip-off is at 7:00 PM local time, or 8:00 PM EST
- Venue: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Win Probabilities:
This is a must-win NBA Cup game for both teams as they find themselves in a very competitive West Group B. According to the NBA win probabilities, the Phoenix Suns are slight road underdogs, as the expert picks and insights give them a 45.80% chance to win. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a 54.20% chance to win thanks to their hot start to the season and home-court advantage for this NBA game.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score for the upcoming NBA game has been calculated using insights, expert picks, and predictions. The projected final score for the Phoenix Suns’ road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder is Oklahoma City Thunder 115-112 Phoenix Suns.
Suns vs Thunder Odds
The NBA odds for the upcoming NBA Cup game between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder are very tight. The home-court advantage for the Oklahoma City Thunder has given them a slight edge on the NBA odds, but the Suns are more than capable of pulling off the upset. Both of these offensive units have been hit with injuries, and as a result.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Phoenix Suns Could Win
The Phoenix Suns have gotten off to an 8-2 start to the season and have shown no signs of slowing down. Kevin Durant’s injury could derail their aspirations, but they still have enough scoring from Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to overcome this shortfall.
Booker has gotten off to a flying start this season, scoring 23.1 PPG while tacking on 7.3 assists. His points are right on his career average, but the distribution from Booker has vaulted him into the next tier of the NBA superstars. Booker’s ability to find his teammates has been fully displayed since Durant’s injury. He’s posted 12 assists in back-to-back games, and the Thunder will struggle to break up the passing lanes with Chet Holmgren in the lineup.
Bradley Beal may be out of his prime, but the 3-time NBA All-Star will be leaned on now that Durant is injured. Beal is the perfect third star, as his defensive abilities pair up nicely with traditional NBA superstars. However, now that Durant is out for at least a few weeks, Beal will be needed on the offensive end. Beal has been an offensive workhorse previously in his career, and his partnership with Booker could flourish at the perfect time to upset the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder Could Win
The Thunder have defied expectations before, and a recent injury to Holmgren will not change that fact. The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first seven games of the season by 12 or more points, but they have gone just 1-2 since then. Losses to the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors can be forgiven, but it is crunch time for the Thunder if they want to add some early-season silverware to their cabinet.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have a big role to play as the MVP front-runner continues to get better with each passing season. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 20+ points in all but one game this season, as his consistent volume on the offensive end will give the Thunder a great chance to win. The absence of Holmgren will put the ball into Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands even more, and he could easily erupt for 30+ points against the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Cup.
The Thunder have been a strong offensive team, and their defense is one of the best units in the league. Oklahoma City will look to slow down a short-handed Suns roster to secure a massive victory in the opening game of the NBA Cup.
How to Make Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder Picks
There is no doubt about the place to make your free NBA picks and predictions for the upcoming matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sportzino offers the best NBA odds for every NBA game this season, including all 67 Emirates NBA Cup games. Sportzino has the best spreads, totals, moneylines, and player props this NBA season. The wide variety of NBA odds available on Sportzino is a huge positive aspect for you, but make sure you carefully examine all the options before locking in your NBA predictions for the Phoenix Suns vs San Antonio Spurs matchup.
