Game Preview: Raptors make their annual trip to the Valley to take on Suns

WHO: Phoenix Suns (36-26) against Toronto Raptors (23-39)

When: 7:00 p.m. (AZ time)

Or: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Arizona’s 3TV and Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

Tuesday evening, the Phoenix Suns earned a gutsy win against a tough Nuggets team in Denver. After ending a two-game skid, they will look to carry the winning momentum into overtime in their battle against a scrappy Raptors side.

Toronto has lost three of its last four games, but the last time these teams met in Canada, the Raptors came out on top. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker shot a combined 13-42 in this game.

The Phoenix Suns are 10-point favorites against the short-handed Raptors heading into this game at the Footprint Center.

Probable entries

Phoenix

• Jusuf Nurkic
• Kevin Durant
• Royce O’Neale
• Grayson Allen
• Bradley Beal

Toronto

• Kelly Olynyk
• RJ Barrett
• Gary Trent Jr.
• Ochai Agbaji*
• Emmanuel Quickley

Uniform match

Injury report

Phoenix

OUT: Devin Booker (ankle), Josh Okogie (abdominal), Nassir Little (knee) and Damion Lee (knee).

Vogel said before Tuesday’s win that Booker was considered “day to day” since he ruled out Thursday’s game with a sprained right ankle.

Toronto

OUT: Jakob Poeltl (finger), Scottie Barnes (hand), Bruce Brown (knee).

QUESTIONABLE: Jalen McDaniels (illness), Ochai Agbaji

What to watch

The dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal put on the show in overtime against the defending champions. After a rough shooting night from the veterans in regulation, they locked down and led the team to an impressive road win without Devin Booker.

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images

Toronto’s lack of perimeter defense should make this an effective night for the Suns stars. I expect 55+ points from the duo on 55+ FG%. It’s your time to shine, guys!

The last time these teams met, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Dennis Schroeder were all still in the Raptors’ starting lineup.

Toronto will limp into this one without Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes and Bruce Brown. They only had 98 points in their last game in a loss to the Pelicans at home.

Phoenix will eliminate Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Nassir Little and Damion Lee. The Suns gave heavy minutes to Metu, Watanabe, Bates-Diop and Goodwin in that game against Toronto earlier this season off their bench, all of whom are no longer with the team.

Royce O’Neale is pictured for Phoenix with former Raptor Thad Young. Toronto has since acquired RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Kelly Olynyk, all of whom the Suns will see in action tonight.

Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images

This will be a great opportunity for head coach Frank Vogel to experiment with his defensive lineup against a team that might struggle to score consistently over 48 minutes.

Avoiding a “disappointing” play on the effort side will be key in Phoenix’s quest to continue building defensive momentum. They put together a strong performance against a powerful Denver offense in the Mile High City on Tuesday, limiting them to just 107 points in 53 minutes of play.

Do not let all three by RJ Barrett, Gray Trent Jr. and Immanuel Quickley are getting hot. Plain and simple. One of them is bound to get hot, but the key is that the defense keeps “the others” from getting to them.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Raptors are in shock and the Suns must take full advantage of the weaker opponent on their court.

Prediction

The Suns come out in this one and protect their home court in a game they need to win against an inferior opponent. It’ll probably be a running game as usual, but the Suns will get through it, they just have too much firepower for a depleted Toronto team.

Phoenix 115, Toronto 104.