Lakers vs Suns Preview: Three In a Row?

The Lakers look to win their third-straight game on Sunday night as they take on the Suns in STAPLES

When the Los Angeles Lakers went on the road to face the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 16 earlier this season, it wasn’t pretty. Suns guard Brandon Knight absolutely eviscerated the Lakers on his way to his first career triple-double as the Lakers allowed 120 points on the occasions and suffered a 19-point loss, their ninth of the season at that point.

18 losses later, the Suns now make their way to STAPLES Center on Sunday night for the second game of their season series with the Lakers. However, things are looking much different for both teams recently than they were going into their first matchup.

As far as the Lakers are concerned, Kobe Bryant is still dealing with a sore shoulder that sidelined him on New Year’s Day, but the Lakers are also riding a two-game winning streak, their first in over a calendar year. Moreover, guys like Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. have really been hitting their strides as of late and this Lakers team is showing a lot of promise.

More from Lake Show Life

• Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
• Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
• Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
• Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
• Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated

Things are far less favorable for the Suns at this juncture, though, as star guard Eric Bledsoe is out for the season after tearing his meniscus and having a subsequent surgery to repair the injury. Only making matters worse is the fact that the Markieff Morris situation along with unrest around head coach Jeff Hornacek have created a chemistry nightmare throughout the roster and the organization.

With all of the Suns’ chemistry problems and the fact that the Lakers have been playing at least somewhat respectably as of late, you have to think that Los Angeles has a shot at picking up a win at home and pushing their winning streak to three games. Whether or not that’s the best idea for a team who is supposed to be in the process of tanking and rebuilding is a separate issue altogether.

This game could honestly go either way. The Lakers are playing well and, especially if D’Angelo Russell can get back to form, have been playing in a manner where they should be able to keep the pace with Phoenix. That said, Knight is still healthy and still very capable of torching the Lakers for the second time this season. This one could come down to the wire, but Los Angeles indeed has a solid chance at picking up a third consecutive win—for better or worse.

Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers

Date: Sunday, Jan. 3
Start Time: 6:30 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Arena: STAPLES Center
TV Info: TWC Sportsnet
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Radio: Here

Injury Report

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant (shoulder)—Questionable
Phoenix Suns: Eric Bledsoe (knee)—Out

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Even
Moneyline: Suns -105, Lakers -115
O/U: 209.5

Prediction

This is actually a very winnable game for the Lakers as the Suns are a mess in terms of chemistry and in terms of their star player in Eric Bledsoe being out for the season. That being said, is a third win in a row really what the Lakers need right now in terms of their tanking plight? I expect Supreme Tank Commander Byron Scott to step in on Sunday night and for the Suns to pick up the road victory.

Next: Russell Over Okafor Was Right Call By The Lakers

Be sure to check back with Lake Show Life for all your Lakers news, updates, analysis, and more.