Suns’ 2016-17 schedule opens against Kings
Aug 11, 2016, 3:16 PM | Updated: Aug 12, 2016, 6:53 am
Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker drives to the basket past Denver Nuggets' Kostas Papanikolaou, of Greece, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 105-81. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
The Phoenix Suns released their 2016-17 schedule on Thursday and will begin with a home game against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Four games will be broadcast on national television with two games on TNT and two on ESPN. Seven games will air on NBA TV.
The Suns will play 39 games at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
As announced earlier in the year, they will host two games in Mexico, facing the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 12 and San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 14 in Mexico City.
Phoenix will follow the opener against the Kings with a difficult stretch at the Oklahoma City Thunder (Oct. 28), at home against the Golden State Warriors (Oct. 30), at the Los Angeles Clippers (Oct. 31) and at home against the Portland Trail Blazers (Nov. 2).
Should the Suns be in playoff contention, the end of the year holds just as many challenges.
Phoenix closes in this series: at home against the Clippers (March 30); at Portland (April 1); at home against the Rockets (April 2), Warriors (April 5), Thunder (April 7) and Mavericks (April 9); and on the road against Sacramento (April 11)
The Suns’ longest homestand is five games from March 2-9. They have two six-game road trips.
In terms of familiar faces, Phoenix play against former head coach Jeff Hornacek and the New York Knicks at home on Dec. 13 and in Madison Square Garden Jan. 21.
On national television, the Suns face the Lakers on the road (Dec. 9 on ESPN), at home against the Grizzlies (Jan. 30 on TNT), at home against the Bulls (Feb. 10 on ESPN) and at home against the Lakers (March 9 on TNT).
