what: Phoenix Suns (20-17) @ New York Knicks (19-18)
when: 1:00 PM AZ Time
where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
clock: barry sports arizona
listen: 98.7FM
Who doesn’t like a little basketball on a Monday afternoon? The Phoenix Suns are in the garden and it looks like reinforcements have finally arrived. Both Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet can play this game, giving the Suns his chance against the Fighters.
New Year, new health? Payne and Shamet are listed as likely on Monday. I wrote this morning about how every player is important to the Suns’ success. https://t.co/FgxmdNED6b
— Dave King (@DaveKingNBA) January 1, 2023
There is something in the garden. Not an amazing arena for anyone who’s never been there. But the mystique, the sacred place, the gaze on you. It’s special.
Being a member of the Knicks can be tough. Because we know that the opposition will always come, wanting to influence the basketball Mecca.
The Knicks are a hardcore team. They won 8 in a row and then lost 5 in a row. New York beat the Houston Rockets on Saturday, crossing . 500, and he has a 19-18 record so far this season.
starting lineup
out/injured
Phoenix:
- Cameron Payne (legs) probably
- Landry Shamet (Achilles) is likely
- Devin Booker (groin pain) is out
- Cameron Johnson (knee) out
- Jae Crowder (doing the same thing in ’23 as he did in ’22) is not with the team
New York:
- Jalen Brunson (hip) is questionable
- Obi toppin (knee) is OUT
- RJ Barrett (finger) is out
uniform match up
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Things to watch out for
The Knicks are missing RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin, and Jalen Brunson is in doubt. They’re the team that lives in the paint because they attempt the most shots between 5-foot and 9-foot in the NBA.
Between Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, who are known for their touches of paint, this is the team that attacks your insides. Put pressure on the paint and the referee and referee it.
You know that applies to Sans, right?
Phoenix allow the second most free throw attempts per game (25.9) and the third lowest (21). Knicks? The Knicks made his fifth free throw attempt. Expect frustration with the referees, as on the one hand the Knicks force matters and on the other the Suns don’t.
fun facts
The Suns are on a nine-game winning streak against the New York Knicks, last losing on January 26, 2018. The Knicks were trailing Ennes Kanter in points (20) and rebounds (10) that game, while the Suns were led by TJ Warren (20) and Greg Monroe (10).
Keys to Suns Victory
The potential return of Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet would be a welcome sight for the Suns. Last week they only scored 110.3 points and finished 28th in the league. This is not the hallmark of a team with his third highest offensive rating in the league.
You need to add firepower, but just like soccer, you’re in the trenches when you play the Knicks. They’re a physical team, with Julius Randall and Mitchell Robinson inside, so it’s going to be a tough matchup for Deandre Ayton and Tory Craig.
Phoenix’s goal is to avoid foul trouble. I want an aggressive Ayton. It would be a fine line for him to walk between being aggressive and being careless on the defensive end. Ayton is averaging 3.0 fouls, 14.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2 assists against Robinson.
How Monty navigates is internal rotation, and trying to counteract internal pressure ultimately determines the outcome.
predict
When I start getting on DA, he shows up and shuts me up. It’s The Garden. It’s NYC. Ayton scores his 30+ points and leads the Suns to victory. And everyone draws my thoughts and drags me through the mud to suggest that DeAndre is incapable of achieving such heights.
go to DA. Earn 30 points. Eighth time in a total of 269 games.
Suns 116, Knicks 110
After the match, join the Suns JAM session podcast to discuss the match live on YouTube.
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