Emotional reunions, fresh frontcourt battles, and high-stakes international road trips define the pivotal contests flying under the radar as Phoenix prepares for a grueling playoff pursuit.
The 2026-27 Phoenix Suns are now slated to enter a tasking 82-game regular season slate in roughly two months.
While opponents such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Philadelphia 76ers will be watched the closest over the course of the campaign, there are games that are certainly being overlooked at the moment.
Follow the three games that are flying under the radar the most below - from fan-favorite reunions, to a trip north of the border, to a contest against a sleeper in the Eastern Conference.
November 12: Reunion With Former Stars
The Suns are welcoming the Charlotte Hornets to Phoenix within the first three weeks of the season. This will mark the return of guard Grayson Allen and forward Royce O'Neale to Phoenix. It will also be the first time that new Sun Miles Bridges will square off against his former team.
Beyond the former team storyline is an interesting on-court matchup. The Hornets are clearly going all-in on a team identity that is built around a heavy dosage of three-point volume and offensive rebounding efforts, while the Suns will presumably be much more balanced.
This contest is one that not many have circled, but it should make for an enticing affair.
December 23: Clash With 2025 Finals Squad
Phoenix welcomes the Indiana Pacers to Mortgage Matchup Center on December 23. This will be the first time that Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton has played in Phoenix since December 2024.
The Suns will also be tested by a new-look frontcourt that Indiana is rolling out with, as Ivica Zubac is now the starting center for the Pacers. This is a game that will test Phoenix C Mark Williams, who is of a similar ilk to Zubac.
Phoenix and Indiana will also presumably be rounding into their respective identities for the rest of the season, which should make for an entertaining back-and-forth battle.
January 13: Road Trip to Canada
The Suns and Raptors have typically played physical, tightly contested games over the years.
This game will face increased stakes, as the Raptors are still expected to complete a trade for Kawhi Leonard in the coming weeks that will thrust them into the top tier of the Eastern Conference.
Suns shooting guard Devin Booker will have added incentive to show up in this game as well, as he has an interesting history in the city of Toronto as a player.
