The upcoming match in the NBA regular season tournament is going to be an intense clash. Because the Phoenix Suns take on the Golden State Warriors at the Footprint Center, Arizona. The atmosphere is going to be very energetic in the arena as the Valley of the Suns have emerged victorious in their last 2 encounters against the Dubs. However, the injury report for this match includes the star players from each side of the team, making it a fair battle.

So according to that, which players will be starting for their teams in this battle? And who are the injured players who might be able to represent their franchise in this matchup?

Expected rosters for the teams going into this intense clash

The Golden State Warriors are currently on a downhill slope, as they have consecutively lost 4 games on the road. In their last match against Oklahoma City Thunder, they lost 138-136 in overtime. Even though the cornerstone of the team Stephen Curry was able to deliver 34 points, the Warriors were unable to overcome their road game dry spell. On the other hand, even the Phoenix Suns are on a 2-game losing streak. The Sacramento Kings defeated them most recently, with Devin Booker’s amazing 28-point performance falling short in a 114-106 loss.

The Suns are entering this game with a home advantage and a momentum advantage. In the last two encounters between the Suns and Dubs, the Suns won even at the Chase Center 108-104, and again at the Footprint Center, 123-115. Not only that, but they have also won 7 out of the 10 encounters between the two teams, proving that they are the more dominating side. As for the injury reports, the Warriors are missing their point guard Gary Payton II due to a calf injury. And for the Suns, the players that will be out of action are the shooting guards, Grayson Allen due to a groin injury, and Nassir Little who faced a concussion.

Not only that, for the Suns, their star player Kevin Durant is questionable due to his ankle injury, but Bradley Beal who was suffering from a back injury, is probably going to make his comeback in this match. As for the Dubs, Chris Paul and Klay Thompson are marked probable due to an illness. Keeping that in mind, the speculated lineup for the Warriors is Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney. And for the Phoenix Suns, the speculated lineup is Devin Booker, Eric Gordon, Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, Jusuf Nurkic, and Bradley Beal, if he makes his comeback.

An in-depth analysis of both the teams

Despite their recent problems, the Golden State Warriors remain a strong force in the NBA. They rely largely on Stephen Curry’s offensive prowess, who averages 29.4 points per game and averages 115.5 points on 45.2 percent shooting. Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins offer important assistance to the team’s attacking strength. The Warriors, however, concede 115.1 points on 46.3 percent shooting on defense. Their line of defense will be a critical factor in containing the Suns’ sharpshooters at bay.

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Despite recent failures, even the Phoenix Suns have a well-rounded squad anchored by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Durant has been a star player, averaging 31 points and 5.7 assists per game. Booker’s ability to score and make plays (27.4 points, 6.3 rebounds) is what makes him a continuous threat to their opposition. But as Durant is questionable to play in this matchup, the Dubs possess an advantage. So what do you think? Will the Warriors be able to capitalize on the disadvantage? Let us know in the comments below.

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