Updated Suns Projections for Regular Season, NBA Finals

The Phoenix Suns are nearing the end of the regular season. Here's how they project to finish:

The Phoenix Suns may not see Kevin Durant again for the rest of the regular after an unfortunate slip during pregame warmups earlier this week turned into a sprained left ankle that will see him re-evaluated in a few weeks. 

The Suns have just 16 games left in the regular season, currently sitting with a 37-29 record. That puts them at No. 4 in the Western Conference as the postseason draws closer. 

Western Conference Standings

1. Denver Nuggets (46-20)

2. Sacramento Kings (39-26) 6.5 Games Back

3. Memphis Grizzlies (39-26) 6.5 Games Back 

4. Phoenix Suns (37-29) 9 Games Back

5. LA Clippers (35-33) 12 Games Back

6. Golden State Warriors (34-33) 12.5 Games Back

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-33) 12.5 Games Back

8. Dallas Mavericks (34-33) 12.5 Games Back

9. Los Angeles Lakers (32-34) 14 Games Back

10. New Orleans Pelicans (32-34) 14 Games Back

Three games could mean a world's difference for Phoenix. Three games over their opponents ahead would make them the No. 2 seed in the West while three games behind would put them in fringe play-in territory. 

Without Durant the rest of the way, the Suns are no longer considered to be betting favorites to win the Pacific Division:

With the NBA regular season set to conclude on April 9, the Sacramento Kings have now moved ahead of the Phoenix Suns with the best odds to win the Pacific Division, moving from +130 to -125, per @FDSportsbook.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 10, 2023

In FiveThirtyEight's projections for the rest of the season, the Suns are projected to finish with a record of 47-35, clinging to their current No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. 

Their percentage to make the NBA Finals (13%) falls at No. 7 out of all NBA teams, trailing the Denver Nuggets (32%), Memphis Grizzlies (22%) and Golden State Warriors (15%) out of the West. 

Phoenix's 5% odds to win the NBA Finals is the same. The Milwaukee Bucks (22%) have the highest odds while the Nuggets (16%), Boston Celtics (16%), Philadelphia 76ers (11%) and Grizzlies (10%) are the only teams with over 10% odds. 

The Suns play host to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.