What happened: Phoenix plays at home from Nov. 4-15, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers among seven visiting teams. Its longest trip spans six games in 10 days from March 8-17 and ends against the Lakers.
Why it matters: The closing stretch features consecutive sets against two projected Western Conference contenders. Phoenix's position in the West could hinge on navigating those late games after capitalizing on its early home-heavy run.
By the numbers: The Suns have 13 back-to-backs, tied for the NBA low: five home-to-home, four road-to-road and four home-to-road. They also face the same opponent in consecutive games four times.
What to watch: Watch where Phoenix sits in the West before the closing sequence and how it manages the back-to-backs.