| Phoenix Suns |
Head-to-Head |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| Monty Williams |
Head Coach |
Frank Vogel |
| 24-5 (1st in West) |
Standing |
16-15 (7th in West) |
| W-W-W-L |
Form |
L-L-W-W |
| 111.3 (6th of 30) |
Off Rtg |
106.8 (25th of 30) |
| 104.0 (3rd of 30) |
Def Rtg |
107.6 (8th of 30) |
| 100.2 (5th of 30) |
Pace |
100.7 (1st of 30) |
|
Leaders (Per Game)
|
| D. Booker (22.9) |
PPG |
L. James (25.9) |
| D. Ayton (11.3) |
RPG |
A. Davis (9.9) |
| C. Paul (10.1) |
APG |
R. Westbrook (8.3) |
| C. Paul (2.0) |
SPG |
L. James (1.7) |
| D. Ayton (0.8) |
BPG |
A. Davis (2.0) |
| J. McGee (.659)/D. Booker (8.5) |
FG%/FGM |
D. Jordan (.684)/L. James (9.7) |
| D. Booker, C. Johnson (.409)/D. Booker (2.5) |
3P%/3PM |
C. Anthony (.404)/L. James (2.7) |
Injury Report
| Player |
Team |
Date |
Status |
Info |
| Dario Saric |
Phoenix Suns |
7 July 2021 |
Out (Knee) |
Saric has a torn ACL in his right knee and there is no timetable for his return. |
| Frank Kaminsky |
Phoenix Suns |
21 Nov 2021 |
Out (Knee) |
Kaminsky is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his right knee. |
| Abdel Nader |
Phoenix Suns |
20 Dec 2021 |
Out (Knee) |
Nader is listed as OUT for Phoenix’s Tuesday (Oct 21) game. |
| Kendrick Nunn |
Los Angeles Lakers |
6 Dec 2021 |
Out (Knee) |
There is no timetable for Nunn’s return. |
| Dwight Howard |
Los Angeles Lakers |
14 Dec 2021 |
Out (Health & Safety) |
Howard has been placed under league health & safety protocols. |
| Talen Horton-Tucker |
Los Angeles Lakers |
15 Dec 2021 |
Out (Health & Safety) |
Horton-Tucker has been placed under league health & safety protocols. |
| Avery Bradley |
Los Angeles Lakers |
16 Dec 2021 |
Out (Health & Safety) |
Bradley has been placed under league health & safety protocols. |
| Malik Monk |
Los Angeles Lakers |
16 Dec 2021 |
Out (Health & Safety) |
Monk has been placed under league health & safety protocols. |
| Anthony Davis |
Los Angeles Lakers |
18 Dec 2021 |
Out (Knee) |
Davis has a sprained MCL and will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks. |
| Kent Bazemore |
Los Angeles Lakers |
19 Dec 2021 |
Out (Health & Safety) |
Bazemore has been placed under league health & safety protocols. |
How Can the Suns Beat the Lakers?
The Phoenix Suns already beat the Lakers once this season, but they’ll want to carry over their success from their last game. If Phoenix can open the game with pace and efficiency, they can leave the Lakers in the dust.
In their last game, a win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Phoenix Suns opened with a 37-point first quarter. They shot 56% from the field and 60% from three-point range, showing incredible efficiency from all players.
The Lakers aren’t lacking in firepower, even with Anthony Davis unavailable. However, they will feel their lack of depth if Phoenix is on their game. The Suns will want to take it to the Western Conference favorites early.
Suns Key Player: (C) DeAndre Ayton
Not much went wrong for the Suns in their last game, but it was DeAndre Ayton who held down the fort for the Suns through their easy win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Ayton is coming off of a night where he posted 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 23 minutes of play. He was massive to open the game, and the Suns never looked back.
The Lakers will be short at the center position when they face off against the Suns and it will be to Ayton’s benefit. If he can flourish early once again, the Suns could make quick work of the Lakers.
How Can the Lakers Beat the Suns?
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off of back-to-back losses, continuing to struggle without Anthony Davis anchoring their defence. When they face the Suns, the Lakers must find production from their role players.
In their last game, a loss to the Chicago Bulls, the trio of LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony combined for 72 of their 110 points. Still with the likes of Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, and Wayne Ellington on their roster, the Lakers need their role players to produce.
Los Angeles have shown the ability to find the shots they want, converting on 51.2% of their field goals in their last game. But if they can’t diversify their scoring, the Suns will shut them down with their team defence.
Lakers Key Player: (G) Isaiah Thomas
The Los Angeles Lakers took a gamble when they signed former All-Star Isaiah Thomas, but he’s not disappointed in his short time in Hollywood.
Thomas posted 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting in his last game against the Chicago Bulls. While he’s not the most defensively adept player, he more than makes up for it with his scoring threat.
The Suns will look to attack Thomas on the defensive side of the ball, so how he fares will determine the Lakers’ success early. If Thomas can stay effective on both ends of the court, he’ll do wonders for Los Angeles’ chances.
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