The in-season tournament in the National Basketball Association will continue on Friday, as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers and Suns are both playing their first in-season tournament game. Portland, Utah and Memphis are the other teams as part of Group A in the Western Conference.
The Lakers come into the game on a three game losing streak. Los Angeles is 3-5 on the season, coming off a 34 point loss on the road at the Houston Rockets. For the Suns, they are looking to win their third straight game. The Suns beat the Pistons in Detroit, and then the Bulls in Chicago.
The Lakers are +4 on the road, and the total for this game is at 222.5.
Beal Returns for Phoenix
The Phoenix Suns have their Big three, but have yet to see them all play together this season. Bradley Beal played in his first game of the season for the Suns on Wednesday in Chicago. Beal scored 13 points in the game, and played 24 minutes. But, Devin Booker did not play for the Suns. Booker has played in just two of the eight games this season.
Booker is scoring 31.5 points per game, and dishing out 10.5 assists in those two games. He, along with Kevin Durant are certainly the go to guys in the Suns offense. Durant is up to 29.3 points per game for the Suns.
Jusuf Nurkic scored the game winning bucket on Wednesday against the Bulls. The big man is scoring 10.5 points per game, and is just shy of 10 rebounds per game. Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen and Keita Bates-Diop are also contributing for the Suns in big ways.
Struggles Remain in Los Angeles
The struggles have been real for the Los Angeles Lakers to start the season. The Lakers are 0-5 in road games this season. Los Angeles on their road trip fell by 19 in Orlando, 1 in Miami and then the blowout loss in Houston. The Lakers are without Anthony Davis, who is out with a groin injury. Davis is not likely to return for this game.
With the loss of Davis, that is 23.9 points and 12 rebounds per game in the pain. Davis was good to start the season, including five straight games of 26 points or more. He was hurt in the loss at the Heat after 24 minutes of play.
LeBron James is frustrated, as the leader of the team. James is scoring 24.4 points per game, and playing in nearly 35 minutes per game. He is making 55.9% of his shots on the season. D’Angelo Russell is the third part of the offense, scoring 17.9 points per game. The Lakers are one of the worst three point teams in the league, averaging just 9 per game, and making less than 30%.
Suns Keep Lakers Reeling
Look for the Phoenix Suns to get this one at home. The Lakers are reeling, and the Suns want to make sure they keep that going. Look for the Suns to score a bunch on the average Lakers defense. Phoenix wins this game by nearly 10 points. Take the Suns -4 over the Lakers.
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