Suns Aim to Break Their Road Curse Against the Struggling Wizards

The Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards are both in rough patches right now, but something has to give when they meet Thursday night. The Suns are having a hard time winning on the road, while the Wizards just can’t seem to win anywhere, losing seven straight games.

Suns’ Road Troubles

Phoenix kicked off their five-game road trip with a 122-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant did everything they could—Booker dropped 35 points with a season-high seven 3-pointers, and Durant added 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists—but it wasn’t enough. Why? Rebounding.

The Suns gave up 20 offensive boards to Atlanta, and it cost them the game.

“You’ve got to hit first,” Booker said. “Guys like [Clint] Capela and [Onyeka] Okongwu are going to crash the boards. We’ve got to box out and let someone else grab the rebound.”

Tyus Jones kept it real: “It’s costing us games. A couple of those rebounds, and we’re talking about a different outcome.”

Making Moves to Fix the Problem

Phoenix isn’t just talking about the issue—they’re doing something about it. According to reports, the Suns are trading for Charlotte center Nick Richards. The 7-footer is averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks this season. He’s expected to bring some much-needed size and toughness to the paint.

The deal sends Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to the Hornets, showing Phoenix is serious about addressing its frontcourt struggles.

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Beal’s Return to D.C. in Doubt

Bradley Beal was supposed to have a bit of a homecoming, playing in Washington after spending 11 seasons with the Wizards. But his availability for the game is uncertain after he tweaked his ankle in Tuesday’s loss.

If Beal can’t go, it’ll put even more pressure on Booker and Durant to carry the load.

Wizards: Tough Times, Young Promise

Meanwhile, the Wizards are struggling to find their footing. Their latest loss, a 120-106 defeat to the Timberwolves, showed the same issues: they can’t close out games. Kyle Kuzma (22 points) and Jordan Poole (20 points) are doing their part, but it’s clear the team is in rebuild mode.

The bright side? The rookies are stepping up. Alex Sarr had 13 points, notching his 15th double-digit scoring game in the last 16. Kyshawn George added 10 points, and Bub Carrington chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds. Together, the rookies played nearly 80 minutes.

“I’ve never played this many games or minutes before,” Carrington admitted. “It’s tough, but it’s something we’ve just got to push through.”

Second-year player Bilal Coulibaly also stood out, scoring 15 points, including two big 3-pointers. “I felt good out there,” he said. “I stayed aggressive and hit my shots.”

What to Watch For

Both teams are hungry for a win. The Suns need to clean up their rebounding and find consistency on the road, while the Wizards need to finish games and keep developing their young core. With Phoenix’s stars and Washington’s scrappy rookies, this game could be closer than people expect.