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Los Angeles Lakers to catch a break against Phoenix Suns

By Kenneth Teape

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are catching a break tonight against the Phoenix Suns with guard Devin Booker being ruled out.

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Phoenix Suns tonight at the STAPLES Center. It will be the fourth and final time that these teams meet this season. The Lakers have won two of the first three meetings, winning both games in Phoenix and dropping the one home game.

Two of the games have showcased a lot of offense, while one was a defensive struggle. Given the injury concerns for both teams heading into this game, it could be closer to the defensive struggle than the offensive shootout.

For the Suns, they will be without their best player, Devin Booker. Booker suffered a hip pointer on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets. He was kneed by Hornets center, Cody Zeller, in the hip. Booker is also dealing with a rib injury, so he is banged up currently.

Booker was unable to practice on Monday but did talk to the media.

"“I’m not feeling too good right now,” he said.“At the end of the day if I feel tomorrow like I do now I couldn’t play,” Booker said, before being ruled out. “It’s not something that hurts a little bit that I can play through. Right now physically I couldn’t play if I tried to.”"

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Booker also added that it hurts really bad. Given the current state of the Suns, pushing their best player when he isn’t healthy makes no sense. It would not be a surprise if he missed multiple games to get back to 100 percent.

It was an unfortunate injury for Booker and the Suns, as they blew a 21-point lead against the Hornets. Had Booker been able to finish out the game, there is a good chance that would have turned out differently.

This is a big break for the Lakers. Booker has torched them in the three meetings this season. He had a near triple-double in the first game, scoring 25 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists.

In three games against the Lakers, Booker is averaging 31.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists in 37 minutes per game. He is shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from deep.

With Booker sidelined, Tyler Ulis is expected to return to the starting lineup. T.J. Warren will be asked to carry the scoring load in Booker’s absence.

While Booker will not be in the lineup, forward Marquese Chriss should be. Chriss did not play in Sunday’s loss after getting into verbal altercation with an assistant.

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Chriss hasn’t played great against the Lakers this season. Given his performance against them, and missing the last game, he could be very motivated to get on the court tonight.

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