Los Angeles Lakers (3-5) at Phoenix Suns (4-4) Game Preview: In-Season Tournament Game One

The Phoenix Suns (4-4) and Los Angeles (3-5) meet tonight in Phoenix for each team’s first game of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. Bradley Beal will make his home debut for the Suns tonight. Kevin Durant and LeBron James will duke it out once again. The Suns enter this game on a two-game winning streak, and the Lakers on a three-game losing streak. Devin Booker will miss tonight’s game with a right calf strain, while Anthony Davis will return after missing one game with a left adductor/hip sprain.

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Local Game Information

Start Time: 8 p.m. MST

Location: Footprint Center

TV Channel: 3Tv/AZ Family, ESPN

Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM

Stream: Suns Live (click for more info)

pic.twitter.com/JWpG6xn06u

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 10, 2023

Betting Odds

Line: PHX -2.5

O/U: 224.5

Injury Report

Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (right calf strain) OUT | Bradley Beal (low back spasms) AVAILABLE | Jordan Goodwin (jaw contusion) AVAILABLE | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT

Los Angeles Lakers Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip sprain) AVAILABLE | Jaxson Hayes (left ankle sprain) AVAILABLE | Gabe Vincent (left knee effusion) OUT | Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel bursitis) OUT | Jalen Hood-Schifino (right patella contusion) OUT 

Starters

Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Keita Bates-Diop, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić

Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

Last Time Out

The Suns (4-4) outlasted the Chicago Bulls (3-6) 116-115 Wednesday night in overtime in the season debut of Bradley Beal. Jusuf Nurkić hit a game-winning layup for Phoenix with seven seconds left in overtime. This game was much closer than it should have been with the Suns up 22-4 early in the first quarter, but 21 team turnovers kept the Bulls in it the entire night. Kevin Durant once again was huge for Phoenix, finishing with 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in 42 minutes. Allen led the Suns with 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists. He shot 8-of-13 from deep. The game-winning Nurkić had monster stats, finishing with 20 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. In Beal’s return, he posted 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.

The Lakers have dropped three straight after a 128-94 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets Wednesday without Anthony Davis. Los Angeles only shot 28% from deep in this game, while Houston shot 54.8% from the floor and 42.4% from three. Rui Hachimura led the Lakers in scoring with 24 points and eight rebounds off the bench. D’Angelo Russell had 22 points and four assists while LeBron James had a season-low 18 points and six rebounds.

Biggest Takeaways from Suns’ 116-115 OT Victory over the Bulls

Flashback: Last Meeting (October 26, 2023)

Kevin Durant’s 39 Points Not Enough as Suns Fall To Lakers, 100-95

Team Matchup Notes

Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Lakers before their second matchup of the year (via Suns)

Each team’s stats (via Suns and Lakers):

Preview: The Importance of Tonight’s Game (with notes on In-Season Tournament)

Why Tomorrow’s Game vs. Lakers is a Must Win for the Suns to Begin In-Season Tournament

WATCH: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James Highlights from Last Matchup

LeBron James and Kevin Durant dueled off in a #KiaTipOff23 thriller, with the Lakers coming out on top 🔥

LeBron: 21 PTS, 8 REB, 9 AST, 2 BLK, 2 STL
KD: 39 PTS, 11 REB pic.twitter.com/yZXUwdXjXG

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2023

Preview: Yuta Watanabe vs. Rui Hachimura

A LOT of Eyes Will Be on Yuta Watanabe vs. Rui Hachimura Tonight

Preview: Devin Booker OUT

Devin Booker will miss his fourth straight game with a right calf strain.

Devin Booker Still OUT for Tomorrow’s Game vs. Lakers