The Phoenix Suns’ first game of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers will be Sunday at 5 p.m. PT. The game will be televised by TNT.
The time of the game was announced by NBA communications shortly after the first two games of the association’s play-in round Thursday.
Phoenix, which is the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, is expected to have a deep playoff run. The Suns have the third-best odds to win the NBA championship according to DraftKings, and they are widely favored to win their first-round series against the Clippers.
Los Angeles defeated the Suns Sunday, 119-114, at Footprint Center to secure the No. 5 seed. Phoenix and the Clippers, who are Pacific Division rivals, split their four meetings this season but the last two came when the Suns were shorthanded.
Phoenix traded for superstar forward Kevin Durant, who is perceived to be the type of player the team has missed in its last two postseasons. Durant has averaged 26.0 points on 57 percent shooting and 53.7 percent from 3-point range with 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
The Suns are 8-0 with Durant in the lineup.
In case you missed it, ESPN polled 14 analysts for the Suns’ first-round series against the Clippers. You can see their picks here.