Suns and Heat Tangle In Interconference Clash
The Phoenix Suns take on the Miami Heat in an NBA seeding game in Orlando on Saturday night.

The Suns (30-39) have been one of the teams that have taken best to the format of the Orlando bubble, as they've won all four of their games and enter this contest just 2.5 games behind the No. 8-seed Memphis Grizzlies. Phoenix's most recent success came at the expense of the Indiana Pacers, which they toppled by a 114-99 score on Thursday afternoon. Deandre Ayton paced the Suns with a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one assist, four blocks and two steals. Devin Booker supplied 20 points, 10 assists and three rebounds. Dario Saric managed 16 points, eight rebounds and one assist off the bench. Cameron Payne registered 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Cameron Johnson contributed a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included three assists and one steal. Ricky Rubio and Mikal Bridges posted 13 and 10 points, respectively, while also totaling four rebounds apiece.

The Suns will continue without Elie Okobo (ankle) and Aron Baynes (knee) for Saturday's game. Kelly Oubre (knee) will be listed as doubtful.

The Heat (43-26) haven't been quite as successful as their Saturday opponent in the restarted season, as they've gone 2-2 over their first four games but still sit in the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami's most recent stumble came Thursday afternoon against the Milwaukee Bucks in a game Erik Spoelstra's squad played without Jimmy Butler (foot), one in which the Bucks clinched the Eastern Conference's top seed with a 130-116 win. For the Heat, Duncan Robinson led the way with 21 points, complementing them with one rebound and one assist. Tyler Herro registered 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Jae Crowder supplied 15 points, four boards, one assist and one steal. Kendrick Nunn went for 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Derrick Jones, Jr. and Andre Iguodala mustered 12 points each off the bench, with Iguodala adding eight assists and seven rebounds.

The Heat will remain without Butler (foot) and Nunn (personal) for Saturday's contest. Goran Dragic (ankle) will carry a questionable designation.

Saturday's game marks the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Heat hold a 1-0 series lead, having notched a 124-108 win Nov. 7.
Posted on: 8/7/2020 8:53 PM
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