The Phoenix Suns will look to go 2-0 to start the 2023-24 NBA season, while the Los Angeles Lakers will try to prevent losing back-to-back to begin their campaign. Will the Suns ruin the day of Lakers fans? Or, will Los Angeles paint the town Purple & Gold?
Catch this game live on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 10 AM, Manila time
Away: Phoenix Suns (1-0/1-0 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Devin Booker (Doubtful)
- SG: Bradley Beal (Doubtful)
- SF: Josh Okogie
- PF: Kevin Durant
- C: Jusuf Nurkic
The first thing to know about the Suns ahead of their date with the Lakers is that Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are in danger of missing this game. Both players are labeled doubtful for Friday’s contest due to respective injuries. Booker led the Suns to a 108-104 win over the Golden State Warriors on the road on Wednesday, scoring 32 points with eight assists in 37 minutes, but he’s now apparently dealing with soreness in his left foot. Beal, on the other hand, has yet to make his Phoenix debut because of back tightness.
Even if Booker and Beal can’t go, the Suns still have an all-time great offensive weapon in Kevin Durant to rely on. Durant shot poorly in the Warriors game (18 points on 22 shots), but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s KD. The Lakers were torched defensively on Wednesday by the Denver Nuggets (52.7 FG%), so look for Durant to take advantage of any cracks he sees in LA’s defense. Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen, who were a combined 4/22 against the Warriors, might also get a little bit of help from the Gods of positive regression.
Home: Los Angeles Lakers (0-1/0-0 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: D’Angelo Russell
- SG: Austin Reaves
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Taurean Prince
- C: Anthony Davis
The Lakers stumbled right out of the gate this season, as they still couldn’t figure out Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, as Los Angeles lost to the reigning champs on Wednesday in Mile High City, 119-107. It’s just one game, though, and the Lakers’ fortunes can turn for the better when they make their home opener debut versus the Suns. Of course, it’s going to be a whole lot easier for the Lakers if at least either Booker or Beal is absent for the contest.
In any case, Darvin Ham is looking for his squad to step up following that lackluster performance in Colorado. LeBron James led the Lakers in that game with 21 points, but Anthony Davis went just 6/17 for 17 points. The Lakers could make a living on the free-throw line versus the Suns, who got the Warriors 28 attempts from the charity stripe. Los Angeles, which went 15/20 on FTs against Denver, was second overall last season in free-throw rate (29.9%).
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Suns (+6) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (224.) hits the Over.
Terri Andrews