The star-studded squads of the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns meet for the fifth and final time this regular season. LA leads the season series, 3-1.

Catch the game tomorrow at 4:30 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Los Angeles Lakers (31-27, 11-18 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

• D’Angelo Russell
• Austin Reaves
• Taurean Prince
• LeBron James
• Anthony Davis

The Lakers are on a 7-2 slate across their last nine games, where they score 121.3 points per game while allowing 115.9 points in return. They have to keep it moving, though, as they are stuck in the 9th and 10th seed, and roughly six games deep in the play-in spots.

While there’s confidence in this squad since they are 3-1 vs. the Suns this season, the Lake Show have been wildly inconsistent, even in the middle of a good stretch like they’re in now. They also have the tendency to earn squeaky victories, as evident in having a -1.7 net rating against Phoenix despite beating them thrice in four games.

LeBron James averages 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the season series, with Anthony Davis adding 22.0 points, 10.8 boards, and 2.0 blocks. D’Angelo Russell (23.0 PPG, 6.9 APG in his last 18) and Austin Reaves (19.6 PPG, 6.7 APG in his last 10) remain as the main secondary weapons.

HOME: Phoenix Suns (33-24, 18-11 HOME)

Projected starting five:

• Devin Booker
• Bradley Beal (day-to-day)
• Grayson Allen
• Kevin Durant
• Jusuf Nurkic

The Suns are back home after a disappointing Texas trip got them back-to-back defeats against the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets. Things are still good overall, though, as they are 14-6 in their last 20 games.

The 1-3 record vs. the Lakers are a bit misleading considering the earlier matchups featured an incomplete Suns lineup, which is furthered by the 127-109 beating they showcased in the most recent meeting. Bradley Beal simply cooked in that game.

Beal has missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury, and his status for tomorrow is up in the air. However, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the rest of the Suns should be ready to flex their offense. Durant, in particular, is netting 31.5 PPG in four games vs. LAL this season, while Booker is at 30.3 PPG on 52.3% shooting since January 20th. 

Sharpshooters Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen should be factors as well, especially the latter as he is leading the league in three-point accuracy at 48.5% on 5.2 attempts.

PREDICTIONS:

Handicap: The Suns (-4) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total goes over 237.5.