Bucks host Suns in Sunday matinee
The Phoenix Suns wrap up their four-game Eastern Conference road trip Sunday when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

The Suns (39-28) improved to 2-1 on their road trip after taking down the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, 107-96, thanks to double-doubles from Devin Booker and Jusuf Nurkic. While far from a go-to option on offense compared to Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Nurkic has been dominant on the glass this season. He’s averaging 11.1 rebounds per game this season, seventh-best in the NBA, and is averaging 15.9 boards per game in March including a 31-rebound performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 3. Phoenix will need Nurkic to continue to clean the glass if the team hopes to climb up from its seventh spot in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile the Bucks (43-24) currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference and are battling the Cleveland Cavaliers to keep that spot. Milwaukee is coming off a 114-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, thanks to another dominant performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo who finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Antetokounmpo has been an MVP-candidate this season, but how far the Bucks will go in the postseason could come down to the play of All-Star Damian Lillard. He’s certainly shown flashes of brilliance this season -- including a 41-point performance in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on March 4 -- but the Bucks will need every ounce of Lillard’s star power if they hope to get past the Boston Celtics en route to the NBA Finals.

Antetokounmpo (hamstring), Malik Beasley (back) and MarJon Beauchamp (back) are all questionable for Sunday’s matinee.

Sunday’s contest is the second and final time the Suns and Bucks will play each other this season, with Phoenix leading the series 1-0 after taking the 114-106 victory on Feb. 6.
Posted on: 3/16/2024 3:34 PM