Unlike the Suns last long road trip that started off with promise but collapsed with a fourth quarter melt down in Detroit, this time the Suns have managed to win the games they were supposed to win and at least fought hard in the loss to Boston. With a very winnable game in Oklahoma, the Suns have a chance to come home 5-1.
The Thunder (38-22) are a tough team with the dynamic scoring duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but they will be without a couple of key components in today's game. The trade of center Nenad Krstic and forward Kevin Green brought back center Kendrick Perkins to provide interior defense and guard Nate Robinson to provide comic relief. Both guys however, are sidelined with injuries meaning the Suns are facing the same team they played twice already this season.
Phoenix won the first game on the road and nearly and should have won the second meeting in Phoenix. The Thunder are coming off wins over the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers but dropped three games before that. They will likely start Nazr Mohammed (acquired from Charlotte at the trade deadline) and Serge Ibaka. Ibaka's activity and athleticism will be a challenge from Channing Frye, but Frye has the size advantage and should pull Ibaka away from the paint with his floor spacing.
The game tips at 5:00 p.m. local time on My45 TV and will be broadcast on Sports 620 radio. Fans can follow along during the game with other Suns fans at the live game thread at Bright Side of the Sun.