The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers meet in each team’s second game tonight. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will not be suiting up for the Suns. Kevin Durant will play LeBron James for the first time in the regular season since 2018. It will also be coach Frank Vogel’s first time facing the Lakers since leaving in 2022.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Local Game Information
Start Time: 7 p.m. MST
Location:Â Crypto.com Arena
TV Channel:Â TNT
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 26, 2023
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (left foot soreness) OUT | Bradley Beal (lower back tightness) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Los Angeles Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel bursitis) OUT | Jalen Hood-Schifino (right patella contusion) OUT| Cam Reddish (right foot soreness) AVAILABLE
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Last Time Out
On opening night, both of these two teams were part of the two games to kick off the season.
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Golden State Warriors on the road 108-104 behind 32 points and eight assists from Devin Booker. Josh Okogie (17 points, four offensive rebounds) and Jusuf Nurkić (14 points, 14 rebounds) were other standouts.
The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets 119-107, as Anthony Davis scored 0 points in the second half. LeBron James led the team in scoring with 21 and also had eight rebounds and five assists.
Team Matchup Notes
The two teams met exactly a week ago to close the preseason, and the Suns defeated the Lakers 123-100 behind a big game from Kevin Durant.Â
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know between the Suns and Lakers (via Suns):
Podcast Preview
Burn City Best Bets
The Lakers are favored by six points tonight and the over/under is 226.5. See some of our best bets below:
Burn City Best Bets: Suns Take on the Lakers – DraftKings Edition
Preview: Bradley Beal and Devin Booker OUT
Opinion: Who Should Start for the Suns without Booker and Beal?
Preview: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James
Kevin Durant versus LeBron James: Let’s Appreciate Greatness
Preview: Frank Vogel Returns to LA to face the Lakers
The Suns’ coach Frank Vogel has some deep ties to Los Angeles and the Lakers. Vogel previously coached the Lakers before taking a year off and then coming to Phoenix.
During his time in Los Angeles, Vogel won the 2019-20 NBA Championship in the bubble after posting a 52-19 regular season record. Not to mention, he had LeBron James and Anthony Davis on this team, who he will go against for the first time since leaving the Lakers (not counting preseason).
Vogel’s time with Los Angeles did not end on the right foot after the Lakers missed the playoffs entirely in 2022.
“I’m so locked into winning and developing what we got to develop to win, I haven’t really even thought about that,” Vogel said about this matchup Sunday.
Vogel has praised James and Davis in the past and has nothing but respect for them.
Catch all of the action at 7 p.m. MST tonight!
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
