A three-game losing streak is ending when the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns face off in the desert Thursday evening. Phoenix, albeit with an extremely depleted roster, has dropped nine of their last 10 contests and at 21-24 now sit outside the Western Conference playoff picture. The Nets have been without Kevin Durant for their past three losses as he deals with a knee injury, dropping them to 27-16 and fourth place in the East.

Thursday’s the second of a five-game road trip for Brooklyn but they remain one of the NBA’s better road teams at 14-9 on the season. Phoenix is 14-7 on home court but Thursday will be exactly one month since their last home victory.

Tip-off at Footprint Center gets started at 10 p.m. EST. Brooklyn is a 1.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds.

Nets vs. Suns NBA Betting Odds

The Suns as mentioned only have a single win outright in their last 10 games, but also three wins against the spread in those last 10 outings. Brooklyn hasn’t faired much better as of late when it comes to covering the spread, going 1-5 ATS in their last six appearances.

Head-to-head the Nets have taken 10 of their last 14 meetings with the Suns, and the over has connected 10 times in Brooklyn’s last 12 trips to Phoenix. Brooklyn has cracked 100 points just once in their past three games without Durant, but on the other side Phoenix has given up over 120 points in their three straight losses.

Brooklyn Nets

Point guard Kyrie Irving was also absent from Brooklyn’s lineup in their 106-98 defeat at San Antonio Tuesday, but head coach Jacque Vaughn is hopeful Irving can suit up at Phoenix. Irving’s been dealing with a sore calf and his January numbers have seen a big dip as a result, scoring 23.2 points per game on 43 per cent shooting from the field. Irving’s second on the team this season with 25.6 points per game while shooting 47 per cent.

Without Irving and Durant, Brooklyn shot three for 23 from three-point range in Tuesday’s loss. The Nets are the second-best three-point shooting squad in the league with Irving and Durant averaging nearly five combined threes a game.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns fell 136-106 Monday at Memphis in what was another ugly loss as the club remains shorthanded. Chris Paul (hip), Cameron Johnson (knee), Cameron Payne (foot), Jae Crowder (not injury related), and Devin Booker (groin) all were absent from Phoenix’s lineup and while a few of these players are back practicing, none are expected to play against Brooklyn.

Mikal Bridges recorded a team-high 21 points in the loss Monday and Deandre Ayton 18 points. During a six-game skid earlier this month, Phoenix went four straight games without scoring 100 points. Now with these players still out, the Suns have given up over 120 points in three straight.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Nets vs. Suns?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nets Team Leaders

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 9.08
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.24
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.5
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.4
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

BK

Points	Mikal Bridges 23.5
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 6.5
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 8
FG%	Nic Claxton 72
Steals	Spencer Dinwiddie 1.25
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.75

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 9.08
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.24
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.5
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.4
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

BK

Points	Mikal Bridges 23.5
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 6.5
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 8
FG%	Nic Claxton 72
Steals	Spencer Dinwiddie 1.25
Blocks	Nic Claxton 1.75

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

Injuries

Brooklyn

Nic Claxton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Seth Curry (SG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Edmond Sumner (PG)

Prob Sat Hip - 08 / 04 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Sat Wrist - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Fri Wrist - 05 / 04 / 23

Day'Ron Sharpe (C)

Prob Fri Ankle - 30 / 03 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 26 / 03 / 23

Phoenix

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Thurs Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Thurs Groin - 02 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Bismack Biyombo (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Kevin Durant (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nic Claxton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Claxton is taking a day of rest, and he will not suit up against the 76ers on Sunday.
Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Dinwiddie will be absent from Sunday's showdown with the 76ers as he is taking a rest day.
Seth Curry (SG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Curry is managing a left ankle injury, but it is likely that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
O'Neale injured his left knee, but it is anticipated that he will bounce back in time for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the 76ers.
Edmond Sumner (PG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Sumner is tending to a right hip contusion, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Finney-Smith is dealing with a right wrist contusion, but it is projected that he will face the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-3	+ -
Johnson is nursing right knee soreness, but it is not likely to affect his status for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Fri	Wrist - 05 / 04 / 23	2-4	3-4	+ -
Finney-Smith sat out the last game due to a right wrist contusion, but it is projected that he will partake in Friday's clash with the Magic.
Day'Ron Sharpe (C)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 30 / 03 / 23	3-6	4-6	+ -
Sharpe is expected to take on the Hawks on Friday despite a left ankle sprain.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 26 / 03 / 23	4-7	5-7	+ -
O'Neale was absent from the previous game with left knee soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Rockets on Wednesday.

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Thurs	Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Ayton is nursing a rib contusion, and he will not face the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Thurs	Groin - 02 / 05 / 23	2-3	3-2	+ -
Paul is hobbled by a left groin strain, and he will not partake in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Nuggets.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	5-7	8-3-1	+ -
Paul will sit out for Sunday's showdown with the Clippers for rest purposes.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Ayton is taking a day of rest and will not be available Sunday versus the Clippers.
Bismack Biyombo (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Biyombo is managing a right knee injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Devin Booker (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Booker will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Sunday as he will be taking a day of rest.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Payne has been idle with lower-back soreness, but it is anticipated that he will return to the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference against the Clippers.
Kevin Durant (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Durant is tending to an ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will participate versus the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Ayton missed the last game as he was given a day of rest, and it is uncertain if he will play versus the Clippers on Sunday.
Devin Booker (SG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Booker missed the last contest as he was given a day of rest, and it is undetermined if he will suit up on Sunday against the Clippers.