Alex Len

Raptors (22-9) at Suns (9-23): Preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:26 p.m. ET

Fansided, Brian Boake/FanSided via Raptors Rapture

The Raptors are facing a rebuilding Suns team. Even so, Toronto has had difficulty winning in Phoenix. Can they have better luck tonight?

The Toronto Raptors must lick their wounds after a disappointing showing against Golden State and face the Phoenix Suns. I suppose if you had to pick an opponent for the second night of a back to back, the fading Suns would be a wise choice.

Phoenix has been a sad place for hoops fans in recent years. The Suns have not made the post-season in six years, and they’ll need a miracle to avoid making it seven. Their roster offers a few glimmers of hope, particularly guard Devin Booker, power forward Marquese Chriss, and Euro-forward (meaning positionless) Dragan Bender. But this group is either too young, like those three, or too old, like Leandro Barbosa, Jared Dudley and Tyson Chandler.

They have lost 6 of their last 7 games, and most of those losses have been by double digits. In fairness, they have played Houston and San Antonio twice each in this span, with predictable results.

3 keys to Raptors victory

Feb 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (right) against Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Raptors defeated the Suns 104-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion & Final Score

For a 9-win team, Phoenix scores a lot of points, but they give up 114.3 per game, which is tied with Brooklyn for the NBA’s worst. If the Raptors can score inside and out, and off the fast break, this game should be a W.

Raptors 122 – Suns 110