The Phoenix Suns get set to clash against the Toronto Raptors Thursday night inside the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ. They tip it off at 9pm. The Raptors need to get going, while the Suns veteran squad is looking to make a deep run into the playoffs coming out of the Western Conference. 

Bookmaker has installed the Suns as a heavy - 9.5 point favorite in this contest. 

The Suns (36-26) have been one of the most frustrating teams in the league this season. They have enough veteran talent on their roster and should be better than their record indicates. They are 10 games over .500 but enter this one having dropped four of seven overall. 

The leader of this team is and will be veteran power forward Kevin Durant, who is averaging around 27 points per game to go along with 6.7 rebounds a night. He is a franchise player and can still light up the stat sheet if he needed to. He is getting some help this season from his teammate in Devin Booker, who unfortunately will not be available for the game due to an ankle injury.

He was netting 27 a game to go along with a very solid 6.8 assists a night and his ball handling skills and court vision will be missed. The Suns will look to slow down the pace in his absence and build upon their 54% shooting percentage from the floor. 

They also connect on 31% from beyond the arc and are a very streaky team when it comes to knocking down shots from three-point land. 

The Raptors (23-39) have had a dismal season and are just trying to get to the off-season as fast as possible. They are clearly in a rebuilding stage and the franchise is trying to see who will be part of this team going forward.

Players still have to perform and show up, and this is a great test for some players who might not have had a ton of opportunities to play. Shooting guard RJ Barrett was acquired around the trade deadline from the New York Knicks and has been a solid player since coming over. He is averaging 20 points per game to go along with just under four assists a night. He is the primary ball handler and the team will look for him to push the pace and the tempo. 

The Raptors have to do a better job of defending the perimeter and close out games which is something they have not been able to do this season. They have had far too many fourth quarter collapses and have choked away some games too. 

If they are to get the win they will have to play smarter basketball and cut down on their 12 turnovers a night. 

The Suns are 3-2 in their last five games and 2-3 in their last five games against the spread too. They are also 14-15 in their road games against the number and the totals have not gone over in their last five games. The Raptors are 2-3 in their last five games and 1-4 in their last five games against the number too. They are a solid 15-14 in their road games against the spread.