Suns host families for Thanksgiving meal at St. Vincent de Paul
The Phoenix Suns hosted a Thanksgiving meal for families on Nov. 20, 2025, in Phoenix, at St. Vincent de Paul.
- The Phoenix Suns will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who have an 18-1 record.
- Both teams are undefeated in the NBA Cup tournament, and the winner will advance to the quarterfinals.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Phoenix Suns have turned some heads with a surprising 12-7 start, but they’re fully aware of what awaits them here Friday, Nov. 28, at Paycom Center.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are not only defending NBA champions led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they’re the fifth team in league history to ever start a season 18-1 or better.
They’ve won their past 10 games and kept rolling without Jalen Williams, but the All-Star forward will make his season debut after having offseason right wrist surgery to address torn ligaments.
They lead in the NBA in point differential at 16.5, defensive rating and are third in scoring at 122.1 points a game.
Monstrous, but the Suns are looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s going to be a great test for us,” Suns star guard Devin Booker said. “They have it rolling. They’re playing some of the best basketball the NBA has ever seen. I’m excited to match up against that. Another (NBA) Cup game. We’re looking forward to that. We’ll see them Friday.”
The Thunder (18-1) and Suns are tied atop NBA Cup West Group A at 3-0.
If Phoenix defeats Oklahoma City, it’ll win West Group A and host an NBA Cup quarterfinal game. If the Suns lose, they can still clinch a wild-card spot in the West if they have a better point differential than Friday’s Memphis Grizzlies-Los Angeles Clippers winner.
The Suns have a +35, the Grizzlies are at +9 and the Clippers stand at -15. The Grizzlies and Clippers are 2-1 in West Group B behind the 3-0 Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA Cup implications add even more pop to this matchup. Oklahoma City is the last remaining unbeaten team at home at 9-0.
“Good test for us,” said Suns forward Dillon Brooks as Phoenix is 4-4 in road games this season. “It’ll be a playoff atmosphere. I can’t wait to see what our guys are built about.”
Phoenix has Grayson Allen listed out with a right quad contusion and Ryan Dunn is also ruled out with a right wrist sprain. Jalen Green remains sidelined with a right hamstring strain.
Suns coach Jordan Ott has said the “goal” is to have Allen return this weekend.
Phoenix plays the Denver Nuggets at home in the second of a back-to-back Nov 29. Allen has missed the team’s past six games.
“Thought it was day-to-day,” Ott said about Allen’s injury. “It’s dragged on a little bit. It was just not your average quad contusion. He got a good one, but he’s still making progress.”
The Suns have entered only one game with a fully healthy roster.
“Every night when we lace them up, you got to go out there and play as hard as you possibly can,” Ott said. “We have an extremely competitive team that I know will be juiced to get out there on the road and see exactly where we’re at.”
The Suns have beaten only two teams who currently have a winning record: the San Antonio Spurs (twice) and Minnesota Timberwolves.
They’re coming off a 112-100 road victory Nov. 26 over the Sacramento Kings in which they led by as many as 25 points in the first quarter.
Up next, the almighty Thunder.
“I’m excited,” Suns big Oso Ighodaro said. “That’s what we are here for is to play the best of the best. Defending champs. We want to go in there and compete, play our brand of basketball that we’re building over here. Excited to go compete.”
The Thunder have been even more dominant defensively than a year ago. They are forcing an NBA-best 18.3 turnovers and second in the league in points off turnovers at 15.6, nearly three more points than last season when scoring 12.7 points off 17 turnovers a game.
The Suns have had their struggles protecting the ball. They are 26th in turnovers at 16.6 and next to last in points allowed off turnovers at 22.1.
The Kings racked up 26 points off 17 Phoenix turnovers Wednesday.
“When we take care of the ball, we’re a good half-court offense,” Suns guard Collin Gillespie said. “We get good shots in transition. When you see these teams go on runs, it’s really kind of them getting out in transition off our turnovers.
“So we’ve got to be strong with the basketball, make good, smart decisions and bring our energy and intensity that we started with (at Kings).”
The Thunder’s lone loss came Nov. 5 at Portland, 121-119, in the second of a back-to-back. Phoenix topped the Blazers in a 127-110 road victory Nov. 18.
Oklahoma City avenged that defeat, 122-95, Nov. 23, as Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points. He’s second in the NBA in scoring at 32.6 points a game.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
