Thunder vs. Suns: How to watch, TV channel, start time of Chris Paul’s return

The Oklahoma City Thunder wrap up their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul, who will take the court against OKC for the first time since he was traded this offseason.

Oklahoma City will try to win and go 2-3 on the road-trip. After losing three games in a row, Oklahoma City took down the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. With a 7-9 record, the Thunder are tied for 11th in the Western Conference.

The Suns’ record slipped to 8-7 after they blew two games to the Denver Nuggets that they should have won. They will be without guard Devin Booker against OKC.

Here are the details of how to watch:

Chris Paul takes the court

Suns point guard Chris Paul will be making his return to Oklahoma City, where he played a season for the Thunder. Last year, he was an All-NBA player and led OKC to a playoff spot. He was traded to Phoenix this offseason for a package that has mainly been re-routed. The only assets that remain are a future protected first-round pick and Ty Jerome, who is dealing with an injury and has yet to play for the Thunder. Paul is averaging 13.8 points and nine assists per game, but the new Suns offense has yet to totally click. The on-off ratings of Paul and Booker are both better when one of them sits and the other plays than when both are on the court at the same time. But that doesn't mean it's good for the Suns that Booker will be out.

Suns' season

The Suns' record is worse than they've played overall. They've suffered a few collapses in crunch time that could have been wins, including against both overtime losses to the Nuggets, a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and one to the Detroit Pistons. Flip even two of those four games and the Suns have double-digit wins. As mentioned above, Booker and Paul have not clicked together yet. The guards, both great playmakers and elite in the midrange, continue to try to find their connection. Phoenix will be without Booker, who got injured late in the first overtime game against the Nuggets and missed the second matchup. Center Deandre Ayton has had an up-and-down season, but he has looked tremendous over his last four games, averaging 22 points, 14.8 rebounds and playing very good defense.