PHOENIX SUNS

Suns release 2018-19 schedule, face LeBron’s Lakers early on

Aug 10, 2018, 1:24 PM | Updated: 6:48 pm

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)...

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Phoenix Suns will open the 2018-19 season on ESPN against the Dallas Mavericks and in their fourth game face the Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Lakers and new addition LeBron James at home.

Los Angeles visits on Oct. 24. In between then and the season opener, Phoenix will on Oct. 20 visit a Denver Nuggets team that added former Suns point guard Isaiah Thomas and two days later visit the reigning champion Golden State Warriors.

A day after the first NBA games tip off, the Suns open their season Oct. 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena against the Mavericks in a showdown of 2018 first overall draft pick Deandre Ayton and No. 3 pick Luka Doncic.

Other notable games on the home schedule include forward Trevor Ariza meeting his old team, the Houston Rockets, on Feb. 4, and another hosting of the Lakers on March 2. Aside from the opener, the Suns will appear nationally on ESPN Oct. 31 against the San Antonio Spurs and on TNT Dec. 13 against Dallas.

The league said it set a record low for the average number of back-to-backs at 13.3 for the entire season; that’s down from 19.3 in 2014-15. Phoenix had 15 back-to-backs last season and will play in just 12 this year.

Phoenix comes off a 21-61 season that led to them winning the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery and selecting Ayton with the first pick. Rookies Mikal Bridges (10th overall selection) and Elie Okobo (31st overall) are expected to contribute within the Suns’ rotation.

The return of point guard Brandon Knight, who missed 2017-18 while recovering from a torn ACL, is also projected to improve the team’s chances, as is the free agency addition of forward Trevor Ariza.

They will attempt to end an eight-year playoff drought in an even deeper Western Conference that most notably saw the Lakers add James.

The entire schedule can be downloaded here.

Single-game tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at noon.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

10 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

14 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

18 hours ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: How the Suns lost to the Spurs before they stepped on the court

Burns & Gambo react to the Phoenix Suns stunning loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and try to figure out why it happened.

2 days ago

Suns release 2018-19 schedule, face LeBron’s Lakers early on