First quarter report
Their last matchup in November was close, and so far it looks like the Knicks and Suns will end this game that way. The Knicks gained a quick lead of 31:30 against the Suns.
The Knicks went into the duel with extra motivation after the defeat they suffered the last time these two teams met. We'll see if they can flip the script or if it'll just stay more of the same.
who plays
New York Knicks @ Phoenix Suns
Current records: New York 13-10, Phoenix 13-11
Here's how to watch
- When: Friday, December 15, 2023, 10 p.m. ET
- Where: Footprint Center – Phoenix, Arizona
- TV: ESPN
- Consequences: CBS Sports App
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket price: $33.00
What you should know
The Knicks are 1-9 against the Suns since March 2019, but they have a chance to close the gap a bit on Friday. The New York Knicks will face the Phoenix Suns at 10 p.m. ET at the Footprint Center. Both teams will suffer a loss in a game they were expected to win.
It's hard to win when you don't work as a unit and provide 10 fewer assists than your opponent, a fact the Knicks discovered the hard way on Wednesday. They fell to Utah 117-113.
However, the defeat does not tell the whole story as several players had good games. One of the most active players was Julius Randle, who recorded a double-double with 32 points and 12 rebounds. The team also received support from Donte DiVincenzo, who scored 21 points as well as seven rebounds and four steals.
Meanwhile, Phoenix was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Wednesday as they lost 116-112 to Brooklyn.
The Suns' loss came despite a good game from Devin Booker, who posted a double-double with 34 points and 12 assists. Booker continues to roll the dice and has surpassed his previous score in each of the last three games he has played. Kevin Durant made another important contribution with 27 points and six rebounds.
With this loss, New York improved its record to 13-10, which was its third consecutive road loss. This difficult period cannot be attributed to the team's offensive performance during this period, as they averaged 119.3 points per game. As for Phoenix, they have been struggling of late, having lost three of their last four contests, putting a noticeable dent in their 13-11 record this season.
Friday's game is shaping up to be a shooting masterclass: The Knicks have shot from deep this season, hitting 37.6% of their three-pointers per game. It's not like the Suns are struggling in that regard, however, as they've made 38% of their threes per game this season. Given these competing strengths, it will be interesting to see how their clash unfolds.
The Knicks will be hoping to beat the odds on Friday as experts believe they are headed for a loss. Those looking to play the spread should keep New York's opponent in mind: They have a subpar record of 2-8 against the spread against Phoenix in their last ten games.
opportunities
According to the latest NBA odds, Phoenix is a 5-point favorite against New York.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the situation, as the game began with the Suns as 5.5-point favorites.
The over/under is 230.5 points.
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Series story
Phoenix has won 9 of its last 10 games against New York.
- November 26, 2023 – Phoenix 116 vs. New York 113
- January 2, 2023 – New York 102 vs. Phoenix 83
- November 20, 2022 – Phoenix 116 vs. New York 95
- March 4, 2022 – Phoenix 115 vs. New York 114
- November 26, 2021 – Phoenix 118 vs. New York 97
- May 7, 2021 – Phoenix 128 vs. New York 105
- April 26, 2021 – Phoenix 118 vs. New York 110
- January 16, 2020 – Phoenix 121 vs. New York 98
- January 3, 2020 – Phoenix 120 vs. New York 112
- March 6, 2019 – Phoenix 107 vs. New York 96
Injury report for the Suns
- Eric Gordon: out (lower leg)
- Damion Lee: out (knee)
- Josh Okogie: out (hip)
Injury report for the Knicks
- Mitchell Robinson: out (ankle)