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The LA Lakers will look to capitalize on their season opener win when they host Pacific Divison rivals Phoenix Suns at the Crypto.com Arena on Friday (Oct. 25). The contest also marks the first back-to-back contest as they play the Sacramento Kings at home on Saturday.
Both teams come off wins with the Lakers notching up a 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Suns spoiled the LA Clippers' first home game at their new Intuit Dome with a close 116-113 win.
The Lakers and Suns played each other twice in the preseason and split the results. Their second meeting held more prominence as rookie Dalton Knecht took control in the fourth quarter and propelled the Lakers to an OT win scoring 20 of their last points. But a preseason game, at the end of the day, is a preseason game.
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The regular season narrative will be about how JJ Redick manages LeBron James and Anthony Davis' workload, the James vs Kevin Durant matchup, and whether Davis can keep up his consistency.
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Phoenix was pegged to be title contenders when they traded for Durant ahead of the 2022-23 season deadline. The move ended with a second-round exit. The following season was even dismal as they were swept 4-0 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, they will hope their 'Big 3' of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal can fire in unison like they did against the Clippers consistently to stay ahead of the pack.
LA heads into this matchup well aware of their record against the Suns and the upcoming Kings threat. Both teams boast of a top-heavy offense and it will be interesting to see how their defense shores up against the Suns first. Records-wise, both teams met five times last edition with the Lakers winning the series 3-2.
Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers preview, predicted starting lineups, betting tips, odds, and prediction
The Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers contest tips off at 10 pm ET. The game will be televised on ESPN and can be streamed live on the NBA app with a subscription to the NBA League Pass.
Here's a look at the odds as listed at the time of writing.
Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers preview
What worked for the Lakers in their season opener was the pace at which they played the game. They had the right players at the right positions (making up for the bunch of 3s they missed by finding deuces regularly), and the defense was on point courtesy of Davis. If the Purple and Gold can come up with a defensive scheme to contain the Suns' offense that's heavily reliant on one or all of their top stars, they will have this contest in the bag.
The X-factor for LA will be the production of D'Angelo Russell who looked flat against the Timberwolves. If the guard gets hot from the 3-point line, LA can look to give James a breather while Russell manages the scoring load.
The Lakers can exploit the paint against the Suns, given their defensive shortcomings. Transition defense and rebounding have been their pain points and if LA can build on that weakness, they can fend off a solid shotmaking side. The Suns on the other hand can beat their rivals purely with their 3-point barrage — an area the Lakers have long struggled.
The Lakers made five of the 30 3-pointers they attempted, but their win came on the back of those 72 points they blitzed in the paint. The onus for the Suns will be on containing James and Davis to help seal the game in their favor.
Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers predicted starting lineups
The Lakers will likely stick to the same combination of starters if they decide to play James and Davis for the contest.
Max Christie, Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, and Jaxson Hayes form the second unit for the Lakers.
LA Lakers injuries: Jarred Vanderbilt (foot), Christian Wood (knee), and Christian Koloko (illness) are out for Friday's clash. Jalen Hood-Schifino (Illness) is doubtful.
The Suns might not tinker with their starting five either. Expect them to start with the same players who took the floor against the Clippers.
Phoenix Suns injuries: Josh Okogie (hamstring) is out, while Grayson Allen (Achilles) and Bradly Beal (Shoulder soreness) are listed as probable.
Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers betting tips
Kevin Durant is a name to watch out for. The forward is -105/-115 o/u ahead of the game. Devin Booker is -106/-120. Keep an eye on LeBron James (o/u of -110/-105) and Anthony Davis (-115/-104).
Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers prediction
The Suns looked good against the Clippers, but when it comes to playing the Lakers, they will have the Davis threat to counter. If the rest of LA's offense keeps churning while their defense cramps the Suns trio of Durant, Booker, and Beal, this may well see LA go 2-0 up in the season. Take the Lakers to pull off a narrow win on Friday.
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