Warriors at Suns watch guide: Lineups, injury report, player usage

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In their last game before the All-Star break, the Warriors make their first trip to Phoenix this season and face the Suns on Wednesday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Pregame coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 5 o’clock, with tipoff scheduled for 6:10.

With the Warriors (12-42) unrepresented in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2013 -- though rookie forward Eric Paschall was selected for the Rising Stars game -- coach Steve Kerr urged the players to get away for a few days before they reconvene next Tuesday.

No one needs the time off more than Kevon Looney. Batting the effects of neuropathy, the forward/center was ruled out after the team’s morning shootaround, bringing to 40 the number of games he has missed this season.

The Suns (21-33) also are coping with injuries. Three rotation players were declared out Wednesday morning, shortly before starting center Deandre Ayton was downgraded from questionable to doubtful.

[RELATED: How to watch tonight's Warriors-Suns game on MyTeams, TV]

The teams split their first two games this season, both played at Chase Center.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Warriors

F – Andrew Wiggins
F – Draymond Green
C – Marquese Chriss
G – Damion Lee
G – Ky Bowman

Suns

F – Kelly Oubre Jr.
F – Mikal Bridges
C – Cheick Diallo
G – Devin Booker
G – Ricky Rubio

INJURY REPORT

Warriors: G Stephen Curry (left hand fracture), F/C Kevon Looney (left hip soreness) and G Klay Thompson (left ACL rehabilitation) are listed as out.

Suns: C Deandre Ayton (left ankle soreness) is listed as questionable. C Aron Baynes (left hip soreness), G Jared Harper (right wrist sprain), C/F Frank Kaminsky (right patella stress fracture) and F Dario Saric (left ankle sprain) are listed as out.

ROTATION OUTLOOK

Warriors: With Looney out, rookie Alen Smailagic and Chriss will split most of the time at center. Though Green has played there in the past, the coaching staff is trying to limit his minutes at center.

Chriss is shooting 63.4 percent from the field over his last seven games, all of which he started. 

Wiggins averaged 21 points in his first two games as a Warrior, shooting 53.8 percent overall and 45.5 percent from distance.

[RELATED: Why Kerr compares Wiggins to puzzle piece for Dubs' future]

After posting subpar shooting numbers for most of January, Lee is back on target this month. He’s shooting 48.2 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent from deep.

Since moving into the starting lineup after the Feb. 6 trade of D’Angelo Russell, Bowman is 2-of-10 from the field 0-of-4 from deep, with 13 assists and five turnovers.

The Warriors have a nine-game win streak in Phoenix, their longest active win streak against any opponent on the road.

Suns: Rookie SF Cameron Johnson made his first career start on Monday, totaling eight points, four assists and three steals. He also posterized Lakers C JaVale McGee on a rim-rattling dunk. Johnson got the start ahead of Kelly Oubre Jr., who was held out of the starting lineup for disciplinary reasons. Oubre played 28 minutes vs. LA and is expected to start vs. the Warriors.

Booker leads the Suns in scoring (26.4 ppg, 49.9 FG pct.), is second in assists (6.3) has scored in double figures in each of the 51 games in which he has played. 

Baynes, Kaminsky and Saric have combined for 81 starts, coming off the bench 32 times.

Other players in key roles off the bench are PG Javon Carter and G/F Elie Okobo.

The Suns over their last three first quarters averaged 37.7 ppg, on 69.0-percent shooting, including 60 percent from beyond the arc. 

Phoenix leads the NBA in points per possession in transition (1.19), ranks second in assists per game (26.9) and fifth in points off turnovers (18.2).

The Suns are No. 1 in free-throw percentage at 82.0 percent, just ahead of the No. 2-ranked Warriors (81.0 percent).

Officials: Rodney Mott (crew chief), Kevin Cutler, Derek Richardson.

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