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The Phoenix Suns have to do some work to beat the table-topper Oklahoma City Thunder, as they head to Paycom Center on Wednesday. The Suns, sitting at 9th, are coming into this game after suffering back-to-back defeats against the Trail Blazers. They fell short in overtime on Monday, losing the game 121-119. On the flip side, the Thunder have won both their recent matchups, sweeping the Kings and the Bucks, and now sit comfortably at the top. But what bothers the Suns apart from taking on the charged-up OKC Thunder?

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Worries, worries, because the Suns aren’t playing their best basketball at the moment. And this will also be the second meeting of the two teams this season. The first one was a low-scoring ball game where the Thunder grabbed a 99-83 win. That said, now let’s take a look at the available players for this highly anticipated matchup at the Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns vs OKC Thunder injury reports

Starting with the Suns, there’s one major concern, Kevin Durant. And the question is, will Durant suit up for tonight’s clash? Well, unfortunately, the Slim Reaper is doubtful about the game. This comes after he sustained an ankle injury in their recent loss to Portland. The Number 35 has played in each of the last two games for the Suns scoring 22 and 27 points, respectively.

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Feb 1, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Suns power forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball over Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images.Moreover, the superstar has been in great form averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. And in his absence, it will be a huge blow for the Suns who look to break their losing streak. But there is something to cherish for the Phoenix-based team. The Suns will have their other two stars, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal available for this one, along with the rest of the Phoenix roster. However, injury is not just the Suns’ problem. Even the Thunder continues to navigate through its season with injury problems.

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They boast a stellar 39-9 record going into the game. However, it hasn’t come without adversities. The OKC Thunder will be without veteran guard Alex Caruso and miss their big man, Chet Holmgren. Additionally, they’ll be without Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic, and Cason Wallace. Lastly, Jalen Williams could also be absent because of a wrist injury. That said, let’s see how the two teams could line up amid their injuries for tonight’s game.

Suns vs Thunder Predicted lineups for tonight’s game

With Kevin Durant being questionable for the game, there could be a slight tweak in the Suns lineup. On the flip side, OKC has been dealing with injuries throughout the season, so they’ll have to resort to their rotational players. However, the good news for OKC is the availability of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s been in red-hot form and will hope to build upon that.

Here’s how the Suns could lineup:

PositionsStarters
PGTyus Jones
SGDevin Booker
SFBradley Beal
PFRyan Dunn
CNick Richards

Here’s how the Thunder could lineup:

PositionsStarters
PGShai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGIsaiah Joe
SFAaron Wiggins
PFLuguentz Dort
CIsaiah Hartenstein

Overall, it promises to be a great matchup. That said, the Thunder are the clear favorites here. Firstly, because of their impressive form this season, especially in the last two games. Also, because of Kevin Durant’s injury, if he doesn’t play, it will be an uphill battle for the Suns. However, Booker and Beal could spark up on any given day and lead the Suns to an upset victory. Nonetheless, we’ll have to wait and watch as the ball hits the air tonight.

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Written by

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Rishi Rajpoot

1,457 Articles

Rishi Rajpoot is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with over a year of experience in digital sports media. Specializing in NBA and football coverage, his work has reached a wide readership, boosting fan engagement through timely reporting, player features, and game analysis. At ES, he collaborates closely with editors and social media teams to ensure his coverage resonates across platforms and delivers value to fans. Before joining EssentiallySports, Rishi contributed to football coverage at Cricfut, where his match reports and feature stories expanded the site’s digital presence. With a strong grasp of sports journalism, audience research, and digital strategy, he combines storytelling with an understanding of how fans consume sports online. Passionate about growing engaged sports communities, Rishi continues to bring sharp insight and energy to his NBA beat.

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Md Saba Ahmed

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