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Pregame notes: Suns host Lakers in 1st NBA Cup home game of season

Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Here is what we are seeing at Footprint Center before the Phoenix Suns face-off against the Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m. MST:

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Injury report

  • Coming off of a five-day break between games, Kevin Durant (left calf strain) and Bradley Beal (left calf strain) are both available for the Suns tonight after being listed as probable pregame. Phoenix is 1-6 since Durant has been out for the past seven games and is 0-5 without Beal who missed the last five. Collin Gillespie (right ankle sprain) remains out.
  • A major boost for the Lakers, Anthony Davis (left plantar fasciitis) will play against the Suns. Bronny James (left heel contusion), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) are all out.

Pregame quotes

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer:

On facing the Lakers: “I would say it goes to their efficiency and their dominance in the paint with [Anthony] Davis in the paint and [LeBron] James in the paint with their ability to get there, finish and get to the free throw line. I think it starts with that, then it opens up opportunities for spot-up guys. I think most good offenses have a little bit of both.”

On having Durant and Beal back in the lineup: “I mean, both those guys are such great players. Kevin [Durant] and his gravity away from the ball. You see it when you watch film and how he could not be involved in something and he’s just going to be closely guarded all the time and so that creates this kind of obvious space for the other four guys that are playing, that when you have that type of elite shooting, it just creates more space for the other four guys on the court. Brad (Beal), I think his ability to attack and beat people off the dribble and to get to the paint, get to the rim and finish. They’re just three great players and you got to have guys that can guard all three of them and they’re all able to kind of do things individually. They’re able to do things with their teammates, so their skills and what they bring to the table is pretty obvious. I think Brad’s leadership, when you got someone like him that is joining and his voice is there and affirming all the things we’re working on and believing in, really buying in, it’s very impactful.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick:

On facing Durant and Beal: “Yeah, again, not to keep saying this but, you know, it starts with our transition defense. They killed us in transition in both those games that we had earlier in the year and we’ve had some improvement, but our defensive numbers versus them in transition versus in the half-court are very stark, there’s a very stark difference. The other thing that stood out just from the first two games we played them is just our level of physicality. They’re going to make shots, they’re elite offensive players. We have to be physical. We have to make it tough on them, and we have to execute our coverages.”

On the NBA Cup: “First of all, I’ve been very excited that I haven’t had to play on a red court yet, so that’s one. I think it’s great, I think it’s wonderful and as this thing gets built out over the years, and they make tweaks, and it becomes sort of standby in our regular season, I think the interest is only going to grow. But I know our guys are excited to play tonight. They’re excited to play Friday, but I would venture to say we’re also excited to play tomorrow, and we’re also excited to play on Sunday. It’s a chance to compete, and in this case, it’s a chance to compete for the cup, and it’s a chance to win some money.

Starting lineups

 

Pregame media

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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

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