The New York Knicks face the Phoenix Suns at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on December 13th. Here is all the information you will need to watch the game.
The New York Knicks will continue their road trip with a visit to the Phoenix Suns. This will be the third game in the Knicks’ five-game road trip, and they will be looking to keep the momentum going.
The Knicks come into the game riding a few winning streaks. They have won two in a row and six of their last seven games overall. They have also begun picking things up away from Madison Square Garden, as they have won four consecutive games on the road.
The same cannot be said for the Suns. They have lost five of their last six games on their home court and six of their last eight games overall. They come into the game with a record of 7-17 as the young Suns have struggled mightily in recent weeks.
While the overall play of the Suns have been poor, they have a dynamic backcourt that will garner attention from the Knicks. Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker are the two leading scorers for the team, averaging 19.8 and 18.7 points per game respectively. They will be a handful, but the Knicks have their own matchup causing players.
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Derrick Rose will give Bledsoe a tough matchup throughout the evening. The Knicks do not let up on their second unit, as Brandon Jennings has been playing great basketball as well. The biggest mismatch will come in the front court.
The battle inside between Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler will be a throwback, as their playing style is rarely seen in the NBA anymore. Where the Knicks have arguably the biggest advantage is at power forward.
Kristaps Porzingis got back on track against the Los Angeles Lakers after struggling with his shot for five games. He has begun impacting the game in a multitude of ways, as Porzingis has gotten things going on the glass and continues to be a difference maker at the rim defensively. Porzingis could force Suns’ head coach Earl Watson to make a change to his lineup.
The Suns have already started nine different players this season as Watson looks to find a winning combination. The only regulars are Bledsoe, Booker, and Chandler. Who will he start in the frontcourt along with Chandler to offset not only Porzingis, but Carmelo Anthony as well?
Tough nosed P.J. Tucker will probably match up with Anthony, but it is anyone’s guess who draws Porzingis. It would be tough to throw rookie Marquese Chriss into the fire, but Jared Dudley is too small to give Porzingis much difficulty. Could Alex Len play alongside Chandler? He has good size and some athleticism that he could give Porzingis some trouble.
There are pros and cons to each player matching up with Porzingis. Watson had better choose right from the start because the Knicks have enough firepower to put the young Suns team away early.
Date: December 13th, 2016
Start time: 9:30 PM ET
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Stadium: Talking Stick Resort Arena
TV Info: MSG, Fox Sports Net Arizona
Radio: ESPN NY 98.7, Arizona Sports 98.7FM / KSUN 1400AM (ES)
Here are the projected starting lineups for the Knicks and Suns
Knicks
PG Derrick Rose
SG Courtney Lee
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Kristaps Porzingis
C Joakim Noah
Next: New York Knicks First Quarter Player Grades
Suns
PG Eric Bledsoe
SG Devin Booker
SF P.J. Tucker
PF Marquese Chriss
C Tyson Chandler