SAN FRANCISCO – After three consecutive seasons in the cellar of the Pacific Division, the once-proud Phoenix Suns are showing signs of revival.
Which is to say the Warriors can't expect to see the same accommodating squad they've beaten in 18 of the last 19 meetings when the teams meet Wednesday night.
Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and the MyTeams app begins at 6:30, followed by tipoff scheduled for 7:40 at Chase Center.
While the Warriors (1-2) were dropping two of their first three games, Phoenix (2-2) was upsetting the powerful Clippers and taking expected playoff teams Denver and Utah down to the wire before losing both games by one point. There is no clear sign of the Suns being rocked by the 25-game suspension of starting center Deandre Ayton last Thursday.
The Warriors, however, hope to exploit the middle, as 7-foot center Willie Cauley-Stein, who missed the entire preseason and the first three games, will make his debut with his new team.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Suns
Sports
F Kelly Oubre Jr.
F Dario Saric
C Aron Baynes
G Devin Booker
G Ricky Rubio
Warriors
F Glenn Robinson III
F Draymond Green
C Omari Spellman
G D'Angelo Russell
G Stephen Curry
INJURY REPORT
Suns: C Deandre Ayton (NBA suspension) is listed as out.
Warriors: G/F Alec Burks (R ankle sprain) and C Willie Cauley-Stein (L midfoot sprain) initially were listed as probable but have been upgraded to available. G Jacob Evans III (L adductor strain), C/F Kevon Looney (neuropathy), F Alen Smailagic (R ankle sprain) and G Klay Thompson (L ACL rehabilitation) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Suns: One year after posting their worst record since their inaugural season in 1969, the Suns are getting strong offensive play from leading scorers Booker (22.8 ppg) and Oubre (20.5). The No. 4 scorer is F/C Frank Kaminsky, averaging 14 ppg off the bench. Not far behind is G Jevon Carter, averaging 10 ppg and connecting on 10-of-20 from deep . . . Though the addition of Rubio gives the Suns a decidedly different look, the biggest offensive surprise has been the outside shooting of Baynes, the burly former Celtic, who is swishing at 54.5 percent from deep . . . The greatest overall change under first-year coach Monty Williams is a devotion to defense. After finishing 29th in field-goal percentage defense last season, Phoenix is No. 6 through its first four games . . . The Suns are the youngest team in the NBA.
Warriors: Knowing they may not have a fully healthy roster at any time this season won't keep the Warriors from welcoming reinforcements in the form of F/G Alec Burks (also making his Warriors debut) and Cauley-Stein. Burks is a capable scorer and willing defender whose overall effectiveness tends to be inconsistent. Cauley-Stein will be asked to do something he typically does not: Protect the rim. How they play will go far to determine their minutes . . . With this being the first of four home games in six days, coach Steve Kerr will hope to extend his bench . . . The Warriors are the third-youngest team in the league.
Officials: John Goble, Nick Buchert, Curtis Blair.