The Phoenix Suns (11-8) and Los Angeles Lakers (12-9) meet tonight in LA for the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament with the winner advancing to the semifinals in Las Vegas and loser being eliminated. The Lakers have beaten the Suns twice this season, but both games the Suns didn’t have Devin Booker. Now, Booker is healthy and so are several additional players on both teams, making this the most full-strength matchup of the season so far between the two teams.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Local Game Information
Start Time: 8 p.m. MST
Location:Â Crypto.com Arena
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family, TNT
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 5, 2023
Betting Odds
Line:Â LAL -1.5
O/U:Â 230.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Eric Gordon (right knee contusion) AVAILABLE | Bradley Beal (low back strain) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Los Angeles Lakers:Â LeBron James (left calf contusion) AVAILABLE | Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip spasm) AVAILABLE | Rui Hachimura (nasal fracture) AVAILABLE | Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel bursitis) AVAILABLE | Gabe Vincent (left knee effusion) OUT
#Suns Eric Gordon (right knee contusion) AVAILABLE https://t.co/xcEFqiLv1T
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) December 6, 2023
All of these #Lakers players listed as questionable and probable (LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt) are available for tonight’s #NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals matchup vs. the #Suns https://t.co/qJKaY7TEtS
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) December 6, 2023
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish, LeBron James, Taurean Prince, Anthony Davis
NBA In-Season Tournament Bracket
Last Time Out
Devin Booker returned with a bang after a one-game absence Saturday and the Phoenix Suns snap a two-game skid with a 116-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies (5-14) and improved to 12-8 on the year. Booker totaled 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to propel the Suns over a scrappy Grizzlies team, who were missing eight players. Memphis led by one at the half, but the Suns had a big 14-0 run in the third quarter and didn’t look back from there. Kevin Durant had 27 points and 5 assists, snapping his seven-game streak with 30+ points, but still putting together a solid outing. Josh Okogie was scrappy all night, finishing with three steals and seven rebounds, impacting the game without scoring. The Suns overcame 37 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. and 27 from Desmond Bane to get the W.
The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 12-9 on the year by defeating the Houston Rockets (8-9) 107-97 on the road. LA was propelled by Anthony Davis’ 27 points and 14 rebounds and kept the Rockets from winning their first road game of the year. Austin Reaves had 18 points off the bench, while LeBron James had 16 points and seven assists. The Lakers allowed the Rockets to shoot 60% from the floor in the first quarter, but were fueled by a 29-4 run in the second quarter, which ultimately led to a 60-44 halftime lead. They didn’t look back from there and won dominantly despite being outscored 54-34 in the paint.
Flashback: Last Meeting (Nov. 10, 2023)
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Lakers before their third matchup of the season (via Suns)
Each team’s stats (via Suns and Lakers):
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Get Booker and Durant going early
- Find the best way for Jusuf Nurkić to matchup with Anthony Davis
- Continue to let Jusuf Nurkić cook
- Don’t allow LeBron to take over
- No more blowing fourth quarter leads to LA!
Preview: Why this Game is Different than First Two Matchups
The Suns Matchup vs. the Lakers Tonight Will Be Different in More Ways than One
Preview: Frank Vogel Loves the In-Season Tournament
WATCH: Suns’ Practice Interviews Yesterday
Kevin Durant Gears up for Tomorrow’s Rematch vs. Lakers in NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals
Grayson Allen Previews In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals vs. Lakers
Frank Vogel Speaks on Suns’ Matchup vs. Lakers Tomorrow in In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals
Preview: Who Charles Barkley and Shaq Picked to Win
Shaq and Charles Barkley have the Suns falling to the Lakers
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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
