For the final time until the regular season gets underway next week, the Phoenix Suns round out their preseason schedule when they face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Suns star Devin Booker (right ankle soreness) felt 100% after Wednesday’s practice and is in line to play. There is a realistic chance that Jusuf Nurkić (finger) could also suit up tonight while there are no updates on Josh Okogie (hamstring) and Grayson Allen (Achilles) who both missed the last game vs. the Denver Nuggets.
The depleted Suns improved to 3-1 in the preseason after a 118-114 win over the Nuggets on Sunday. With the four players named above out and Kevin Durant, Tyus Jones and Bradley Beal resting, rookie Ryan Dunn and former Nugget Monte Morris used the most out of their opportunities by scoring 20 points each as Phoenix came back from down 13 to beat Denver.
Phoenix shot 44.6% from three and had five players notching double-digit points. Royce O’Neale had 17, Bol Bol dropped 14 and Collin Gillespie, who has impressed so far during preseason, contributed with 12 points and six assists against his former team.
It will be interesting to see how head coach Mike Budenholzer rotates the lineup with roster spots up for grabs before opening night next Wednesday vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.
Fan-favorite Frank Kaminsky is on an exhibit-10 contract, which could be turned into a standard contract if the team decides to convert it. Gillespie, Jalen Bridges and Phoenix native TyTy Washington Jr. are all on two-way contracts that will either see them make the NBA roster or be sent to the Suns’ G League affiliate, the Valley Suns.
Now with the preseason finale just hours away in the Valley, Phoenix hosts a Lakers team who are 1-3 under first-year head coach JJ Redick.
Anthony Davis has been the star for Los Angeles so far, averaging 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in three games. In limited minutes, James is tallying 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
The Lakers fell to arguably the best team in the preseason, the 5-0 Golden State Warriors, 111-97 on Tuesday. Davis posted 24 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double and rookie Dalton Knecht came off the bench for 19 points. The former University of Northern Colorado product Knecht has been one of the better performers in the preseason since being the No. 17 pick of this year’s draft, averaging 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in all four games.
With nothing but pride on the line, both teams will look to end preseason on a high note. Phoenix’s bench propeled the team to a 118-114 comeback win over Los Angeles on Oct. 6 in it’s preseason opener.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream: Suns Live
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
