It is always important for the Phoenix Suns to get off to a winning start in season openers, particularly in a conference as competitive as the West. The Suns have title-winning aspirations this campaign, and victory over the LA Clippers in their first game will give them momentum heading into a busy first two weeks.
But how have they fared in the last five seasons and what has it led to?
A Look at the Last Five Suns Season Openers
2023/24 – Phoenix Suns 108-104 Golden State Warriors (Away)
Last year, the Suns began with a victory over the Golden State Warriors in their season opener. It was the first time Kevin Durant played against the Warriors as a member of the Suns, scoring 18 points. Devin Booker, who had been questionable, played and scored a game-high 32 points. The highly anticipated debut of Bradley Beal alongside the star duo did not occur as he was out with a back injury, one that would keep him out for weeks to come.
It was a back-and-forth game which saw the Suns take a 15-point lead into halftime. The Warriors, who are often so dominant in third quarters, fought back outscoring their opponents by 21 to take the lead. It was the Suns who prevailed with a strong fourth-quarter finish. Steph Curry was the Warriors’ points leader with 27.
Four losses in six followed for Phoenix, though they were without Booker and Beal for the most part. It was a tumultuous season which saw them linger around the play-in positions, but they ultimately grabbed the sixth seed. Their playoffs ended in a sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
2022/23 – Phoenix Suns 107-105 Dallas Mavericks (Home)
Just months after their game seven humiliation against the Dallas Mavericks, the Suns would open their season with another matchup with the side in one of the wildest season openers in recent years. The final score shows a very close game, though this did not tell the full story. For much of the game, it was a one-sided affair in the favour of the Mavericks, as home fans were feeling a sense of déjà vu. The Suns were down by as many as 22 points and at half-time, the away team was up by 17. The arena was deflated, but the second half saw a stunning comeback.
The box score will show Booker with 28 points, but the spark came from an unlikely source in Damion Lee. Off the bench, the guard scored 11 points, including the game-winning shot with 9.7 seconds left. He also drained a pair of clutch three-pointers and scored all his points in the final quarter to secure the dramatic win.
This led to six wins in their opening seven as the Suns finished as the fourth seed. However, it was a much different team to end the season than what started it, thanks to the blockbuster deadline trade which saw Durant acquired. The Suns would go on to lose in the second round against the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets.
2021/22 – Phoenix Suns 98–110 Denver Nuggets (H)
After the heartbreak of losing the NBA Finals, the Suns opened up the new season with a defeat to the Nuggets. It is their only opening-game loss in the last five seasons. Booker struggled from the field, going 3-15 for 12 points. Mikal Bridges led the way with 16. Nikola Jokic began his MVP campaign dominantly, scoring 27 points on his way to victory.
Whilst they lost three of their opening four games, it did not affect them in the long run, as they finished as the top seed in the West. Amongst the favorites to make it to back-to-back finals, their playoff journey did not go to plan. Taken to game seven in the Western Conference Semi-Finals by the Mavericks, they were embarrassingly beaten on their home floor and eliminated.
2020/21 – Phoenix Suns 106–102 Dallas Mavericks (H)
Because of the pandemic and the NBA bubble, the 2020/21 season did not tip off until December. The Suns were hopeful of building on their success in the shortened season, and they added future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul into the mix to help them take the next step.
It was a slow start to the campaign for the Suns, beginning 8-8 with some teething problems, but the campaign opened with a win over the Mavericks. They debuted their new starting five which would take them to the NBA Finals that year. Booker scored 22 points, followed by Bridges’ 18. Luka Doncic scored 32 points. Paul had a quiet game with eight points and five assists. He would finish fifth in NBA MVP voting as the team secured the second seed in the Western Conference.
Though the season ended in heartbreak with a finals loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Suns showed the league they were serious contenders.
2019/20 – Phoenix Suns 124-95 Sacramento Kings (H)
This season was the strangest in NBA history due to the pandemic, though no one knew what was to come on opening night in 2019. The Suns were heading into their 10th season without securing a playoff berth, but they were hoping for a change under new head coach Monty Williams.
They got off to the perfect start with the new man at the helm, blowing out the Sacramento Kings in their home opener. Booker unsurprisingly led the way with 22 points, followed by Kelly Oubre Jr who provided 21. Deandre Ayton was a starter, with Bridges coming off the bench.
It was another losing season for the franchise, ending 34-39, but they finished the year with an 8-0 run in the NBA bubble, missing the playoffs because of a tiebreaker. They were the only undefeated team in the bubble, and it proved a catalyst for success in years to come.
