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Phoenix Suns begin 2022 with 14 games in 28 days highlighted by back-to-back vs. Utah Jazz

duane rankin, arizona republic
·3 min read

(Note: This story was updated to reflect the NBA rescheduling the Suns-Pistons game, which originally was set for Jan. 12).

This is how the Phoenix Suns are starting the New Year:

They have 14 games in 28 days starting Sunday at Charlotte in a rematch of a Dec. 19 game the Suns won in convincing fashion, 137-106, at Footprint Center.

Here's their January schedule.

  • 1/2 at Charlotte 5:00 p.m.

  • 1/4 at New Orleans 6:00 p.m.

  • 1/6 vs. Los Angeles Clippers 8:00 p.m. (TNT)

  • 1/8 vs. Miami 7:00 p.m.

  • 1/11 at Toronto 5:30 p.m.

  • 1/14 at Indiana 5:00 p.m.

  • 1/16 at Detroit 11 a.m. (note: rescheduled from Jan. 12)

  • 1/17 at San Antonio 6:30 p.m.

  • 1/20 at Dallas 8:00 p.m.

  • 1/22 vs. Indiana 7:00 p.m.

  • 1/24 vs. Utah 7:00 p.m. (NBATV)

  • 1/26 at Utah 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)

  • 1/28 vs. Minnesota 7:00 p.m.

  • 1/30 vs. San Antonio 6:00 p.m.

The Suns (27-8) enter Sunday's game with Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, JaVale McGee and Abdel Nader (knee management) in the NBA's health and safety protocols along with head coach Monty Williams.

Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson (8) and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) battle for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson (8) and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) battle for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Here's a breakdown of Phoenix's January games.

No. 11: Miami will be the final opponent in an 11-game stretch in 21 days for the Suns that began Dec. 19 against Charlotte.

Revenge: The Hornets and Timberwolves should both be eager to see the Suns again with totally different incentives.

Phoenix drummed Charlotte last month and escaped Minnesota with a 99-96 win in November.

Toughest test: While Golden State and Phoenix have been atop the Western Conference, and league, most of the season, Utah has been right there.

So to have a back-to-back home-away setup is huge for both teams as they have yet to play each other this season.

Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) pats Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45), who is fired up after scoring and being fouled in the final minutes of the game, in the second half during an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan).
Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) pats Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45), who is fired up after scoring and being fouled in the final minutes of the game, in the second half during an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan).

Two more: The Suns play the Spurs and Pacers twice this month.

They're 2-0 against San Antonio as each game was decided by four points. Phoenix has yet play Indiana and won't see the Pacers again after their home-away series.

WCF rematch: The Clippers and Suns will meet for the second time this season after battling in the Western Conference finals that ended in Phoenix's favor.

The Clippers took the first matchup, 111-95, but the Suns were without Devin Booker (hamstring) and Deandre Ayton (non-COVID illness). Los Angeles didn't have Paul George (elbow) and Kawhi Leonard (knee), who hasn't played all season.

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 10, 2021 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 10, 2021 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

Familiar face: The Suns will see Willie Green again as he's in his first season as head coach in New Orleans. Phoenix won the first matchup at home.

Green hasn't had his best player, Zion Williamson (foot), all season. Certainly not what he signed up for when leaving Phoenix for his first head coaching job

On the road: The Suns will have their longest road trip this season in terms of number of games (five) this month starting Jan. 11 at Toronto.

They follow that up at indiana (Jan. 14), and Detroit on Jan. 16, a game that was rescheduled from Jan. 12 by the NBA to accommodate another rescheduled game for Detroit that was postponed last month. Detroit is always a big game for Booker as he's from Michigan. The move creates a back-to-back for Phoenix, which is at San Antonio Jan. 17 before heading to Dallas.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns start 2022 with 14 games in 28 days including back-to-back vs. Jazz