Suns’ Dillon Brooks shares the last time he lacked confidence
Dillon Brooks scored a season-high 32 points in just 28 minutes in the Phoenix Suns’ win against the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 13, 2025.
OK, fans, be honest: How many of you were able to stay up until the very end of the Tuesday, Nov. 18, Phoenix Suns game?
The Suns played their first game of the season with a scheduled start at 9 p.m. MST (it actually tipped off a little bit later). It was televised nationally by NBC (Ch. 12 locally) and also on Arizona’s Family (3TV), on Nov. 18.
A typical NBA game lasts close to 2½ hours, not counting OT, and that was the case for the Suns’ 127-110 win over the Trail Blazers, which was played in Portland, where the scheduled start time was 8 p.m. PST. It was 11 p.m. on the East Coast.
The game ended close to 11:30 p.m. in Arizona, though the Suns had built a comfortable fourth-quarter lead well before the final horn. It was after 10 p.m. when halftime arrived.
The reason for the later starts this season is the NBA’s new television contract with NBC, which features a nationally televised doubleheader on Tuesday nights. That means a late start for the second game. The first game on Nov. 18 featured the Memphis Grizzlies vs. the San Antonio Spurs.
Phoenix is slated for two more 9 p.m. starts, both Tuesday nights for NBC: Feb. 3, again at Portland, and March 3, at the Sacramento Kings. The tip time is 8 p.m. in those California cities. Prior to this, the latest starts were 8:30 p.m. Phoenix time a few times a year for games played in California, usually to accommodate national TV.
The flip side for Suns fans, is there are several road trips coming up this winter that will take Phoenix to the East Coast and Midwest. And that means game times starting around 5 p.m., or so.
Suns fans weren’t exactly thrilled with the later start, especially falling midweek when many viewers have to rise early for work or school the next morning. They let it be known on social media.
Btw this game starting at 9 pm is insane man. Especially if you’re a Suns fan outside of Arizona game starting insanely late
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) November 19, 2025
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a Suns game start at 9
— Tuff ☀️ (@TuffSuns) November 19, 2025
#AdamSilver @NBA #NBA hey man when the hell has it ever been okay or ever happened in my damn lifetime that a damn NBA game is being played at 9PM at night, 8PM. Why the hell are these games being played so damn late man smh! @Suns #PhoenixSuns
— TheTeacherwithLocs (@Thegreg91) November 18, 2025
9pm game. Rip East coast Suns fans. You will be remembered
— Rj Wubs (@Rjwubby) November 18, 2025
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