Who plays the Suns? More on Phoenix’s opposition in Orlando
Jun 26, 2020, 4:40 PM | Updated: 4:53 pm
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to pass as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
The NBA released its full schedule for the seedings portion of play in Orlando at Walt Disney World. The eight games for all 22 teams will lead to a play-in tournament if necessary, followed by the playoffs.
In order to be fair, the league selected these eight games by looking at the next games up on the schedule for teams before the league shut down in mid-March. If a team was not coming to Orlando, they were skipped. After some mild swapping of the order to balance the leaguewide schedule, it was complete.
The Phoenix Suns’ eight games are against seven teams, six of which are locked into playoff spots. The lone game they do not play against a playoff team is their first on July 31 against the Washington Wizards, who could still technically be one as they fight for the eighth seed in the East, just like the Suns in the West.
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Washington Wizards (24-40) — 9th seed in Eastern Conference
Suns record vs. WAS: 0-1
Dallas Mavericks (40-27) — 7th seed in Western Conference
Suns record vs. DAL: 1-1
Los Angeles Clippers (44-20) — 2nd seed in Western Conference
Suns record vs. LAC: 1-2
Indiana Pacers (39-26) — 5th seed in Eastern Conference
Suns record vs. IND: 0-1
Miami Heat (41-24) — 4th seed in Eastern Conference
Suns record vs. MIA: 0-1
Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24) — 5th seed in Western Conference
Suns record vs. OKC: 0-2
Philadelphia 76ers (39-26) — 6th seed in Eastern Conference
Suns record vs. PHI: 1-0
Dallas Mavericks (40-27) — 7th seed in Western Conference
Suns record vs. DAL: 1-1
Phoenix went a combined 3-8 against those opponents this year.
All but the second game against the Mavericks were scheduled to be road contests, meaning little with teams converging in a neutral location.
Skipped games for their previously-scheduled next eight outings include one against the Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45), who are second-to-last in the Western Conference, and another against the Eastern Conference-bottom-dwelling Cleveland Cavaliers (19-46).
The Suns are 26-39, six games behind the Memphis Grizzlies in the current No. 8 spot. To make the postseason play-in tournament, they would have to be the No. 9 seed while being within 4.0 games of the eighth and final playoff spot.
