The Phoenix Suns have the golden opportunity to infuriate the entire Los Angeles Lakers fanbase with a win this Saturday. Will the Suns doom LA’s dreams of clinching a guaranteed top-six spot in the West? Or, will the Lakers rise up to the challenge and pull off an important victory?

Catch this game live on Saturday, April 8, at 10:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Phoenix Suns (45-35/17-23 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Chris Paul
  • SG: Devin Booker
  • SF: Josh Okogie
  • PF: Kevin Durant
  • C: Deandre Ayton

Where’s the motivation to win this Saturday going to come from for the Suns? Already assured of a spot in the NBA Playoffs and with the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference standings locked up, the Suns will just have to think about trying to keep their win streak alive and maintain that form until the end of the regular season. The Suns extended their undefeated run to seven games Friday with a 119-115 home win against the Denver Nuggets. 

However, it wouldn’t be the most surprising thing in the world if the Suns elect to rest their stars for this matchup versus the Lakers.  The Suns have covered the spread in five of their last six outings. While it’s a bit of worry that they will play the Lakers on the second day of a back-to-back, it’s worth noting that the Suns have gone 4-1 in their last five games on zero days of rest.

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Home: Los Angeles Lakers (41-39/21-18 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: D’Angelo Russell (probable)
  • SG: Austin Reaves
  • SF: LeBron James (questionable)
  • PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
  • C: Anthony Davis  (questionable)

The Lakers need to win this Saturday to keep their hopes alive of making it to the top six of the standings in the West. They did not do themselves any favor when they let the Los Angeles Clippers blast them on Thursday, 125-118. All things considered, the Lakers have still looked good of late, as they have won seven of their last eight games. Before getting tripped up by the Clippers, the Lakers were on a four-game win streak. 

There’s a chance that the Lakers would just roll the dice and hold LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis for the rest of the regular season, so it’s best to keep an eye out on their statuses ahead of tip-off.  That’s also the case for the Suns, who could let the likes of KD, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton sit out this contest in what is practically a meaningless game for Phoenix. The Lakers are 20-18-1 ATS at home this season.

It’s also worth noting that the Sacramento Kings have announced that most of their main rotation is questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Golden State Warriors, so the Lakers may not have the luxury of resting James and Davis as a loss to the Suns and a Warriors win would be a disaster.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Lakers (-6.5) cover the spread.

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