Who: Los Angeles Lakers (17-7) @ Phoenix Suns (14-11)
When: 6:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7, KSUN
The Phoenix Suns and Los
Angeles Lakers are set to face off for the second time in less than two weeks after both lost in the Quarterfinals of the NBA Cup earlier in the week. The Lakers suffered a 13-point loss despite being 7.5 favorites, while the Suns had their biggest loss in franchise history, losing by 49 points to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
First time both teams played this season? December 1st, when after Devin Booker exited the game at the end of the first quarter with a groin injury, Phoenix outscored the Lakers 94-77 the rest of the game. They forced Luka Doncic into tying his career high for turnovers in a game with nine. Collin Gillespie and Dillon Brooks combined for 61 points and 10 threes.
Devin Booker is QUESTIONABLE to make his return after missing the last three games with a groin injury, while the Lakers will be without their second leading scorer, Austin Reaves, who is expected to be out the next few games with a left calf strain.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Devin Booker — QUESTIONABLE (Right Groin Strain)
Dillon Brooks — QUESTIONABLE (Left Achilles Soreness)
Jalen Green — OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)
Isaiah Livers — OUT (Right Hip Strain)
Lakers
Bronny James — OUT (G League)
Maxi Kleber — OUT (Lumbar Muscle Strain)
Austin Reaves — OUT (Left Calf Strain)
What to Watch For
If he makes his return, how does Devin Booker look? The all-star has a long history of injuries around this part of the season.
Before getting hurt, Booker’s averages were down over his last 10 games compared to his first 12 of the season. How will his near two-week absence impact him against a team with a middle-of-the-pack defensive rating?
Does Booker’s return force Collin Gillespie back to the bench? The Villanova guard is having the best month of his career, averaging 15.5 points per game on 41.4% shooting from three. The first time the two teams played, he set his career high in points and threes made in a game. If he returns to a bench role, does he act as a sixth starter, playing a lot of minutes with the starting five without starting?
Key to a Suns Win
Just like the first time the two teams played, Phoenix needs to be aggressive, shooting threes and looking for steals. The Suns hit 17 threes in the December 1 matchup, tying their fifth-most they’ve made in a game all season, doing so at an efficient 43.6% clip. Phoenix picked up 16 steals in the game, forcing the Lakers into their second-most turnovers in a game this year in the process.
With Grayson Allen playing after not playing in the first game and Reaves being out, the Suns should be set up for another game where they make a lot of threes and force a lot of turnovers. Will they?
Prediction
Give me Phoenix here. While the Lakers have the third-most road wins in the Western Conference, the Suns are tied for the third-most home wins in the West and are going to be healthier than they were in the first matchup, even if Booker doesn’t suit up, and the Lakers are missing a potential all-star for the matchup. Expect a high-scoring outing that comes down to the wire.
Suns 121, Lakers 116
