While the Atlanta Hawks have locked up a playoff berth and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Phoenix Suns are pushing to get back into contention in the Western Conference after dropping their last five of six games. The Suns need a win in the worst way as they kick off a four-game road trip. However, getting a game against the Hawks without leading scorer Paul Millsap might just help them out.
The Hawks will play the next two games without Millsap after the forward suffered a shoulder sprain during a collision in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets. Millsap did not return, but the diagnosis was much more positive than originally assumed. Millsap is currently averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds as the team's leading scorer and Atlanta is very aware they need him healthy for the postseason. With Millsap, DeMarre Carroll, Al Horford and Jeff Teague will pick up the slack.
The team looked strong against the Nets despite losing Millsap early. Carroll had 20 points while Horford and Teague added 17 points. The team shot 59.8 percent against a Nets team fighting for the postseason while shooting 41.1 percent from long range in the past eight games. Carroll hit 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. He is currently shooting 52.9percent from long range his last four games.
History could be in favor of Phoenix who is battling for a postseason spot. The Suns have won three of their last four games in Atlanta. The Hawks did get the best of the Suns back in mid-March while Markieff Morris scored 22 points. He is currently averaging 20.0 points on 57.1 percent in his last three games of the series against Atlanta. Phoenix is fresh off a win over the Utah Jazz after suffering a five-game losing streak. They are chasing the Thunder for the No. 8 spot, sitting three games behind them while being 2 ½ games behind the Pelicans.
One thing that could hurt Phoenix is injuries. Their once deep backcourt is depleted. Brandon Knight is now injured with a sprained left ankle while Alex Len has been out with a broken nose. The Suns need to get healthy quickly if they have any chance of getting back into the postseason.
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