Josh Giddey and his Oklahoma City face are treading a fantastic line towards the NBA playoffs as they put together to face former Thunder celebrity Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
After a season during which they’ve already exceeded the expectations of many, the youthful Thunder (38-40) enter Sunday’s dwelling conflict with the Suns clinging to tenth spot within the Western Conference, simply forward of Dallas for the ultimate spot within the Play-In match.
They missed out on an opportunity to solidify their spot within the Play-In, or push to maneuver into the highest six within the Western Conference, by dropping two out of their final three video games – all towards groups close to the underside of the Eastern Conference.
“We all know where we are and what’s at stake at this end of the season,” mentioned 20-year-old Australian star Giddey.
“You can’t let one game get you down. There’s four more games. Who know what happens in those four?”
The Suns (42-35) are in fourth place within the Western Conference with 5 video games to go, having gained 4 consecutive video games.
They aren’t more likely to transfer up, as they sit 5 video games behind third-placed Sacramento however, with groups nipping at their heels, in addition they have loads to play for on Sunday.
They are lastly beginning to string some wins along with the remade lineup that they hoped would assist them problem for an NBA title.
Now, Suns coach Monty Williams mentioned, it is time for Phoenix to discover a persistently excessive stage of play because the common season winds down and the postseason nears.
“We’re grateful for every win, but we know we have to play at a high level every time we step on the floor, as far as focus and attention to detail,” Williams mentioned. “That’s hard to do but we’ve got guys that can do it.”
Sunday’s sport figures to be Durant’s first in Oklahoma City – the place he spent eight seasons – since being traded to the Suns from the Brooklyn Nets in early February.
Durant suffered an ankle damage in warm-ups earlier than the Suns’ victory over the Thunder in Phoenix on March 8, holding him out of 10 video games,
In the 2 video games since returning, Durant is averaging 23 factors and capturing 48.5 per cent from the ground.
In Friday’s win over Denver, Durant was 11 of 15 for 30 factors.
During his profession, Durant has averaged 32 factors, 8.6 rebounds and three.1 assists in 11 video games towards the Thunder.
The Suns have gained two of the three conferences with the Thunder this season.
Oklahoma City’s lone win got here within the final assembly, 124-120, at dwelling on March 19.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
