Suns at Lakers
Mike D’Antoni will not be on the sidelines against his former team when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Phoenix Suns on Friday. D’Antoni was hired by the Lakers to replace Mike Brown earlier this week but isn’t expected to make his debut until Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets. Los Angeles is 2-1 since Brown was let go and lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. Phoenix is 1-3 on the road.
The Suns are a half-game ahead of the Lakers in the Pacific Division despite losing in overtime to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Luis Scola had 24 points and 14 rebounds, but his big games haven’t been helping as Phoenix is 0-3 when Scola scores 20 or more points. D’Antoni admitted it’s weird to be associated with the Lakers after some of the bitter battles when he was Phoenix’s coach. “I came in here and I hated you guys forever and you all hated me,” D’Antoni said.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix), Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SUNS (4-5): Center Marcin Gortat has five double-doubles and has 30 blocks through nine games. That 3.3 average is significantly higher than the career-best 1.5 blocks Gortat averaged last season. “I’m just trying to be more aggressive from the defensive end and protect the rim,” Gortat said. “I understand that once in a while I’m going to get dunked on. I have to realize that.” Gortat is averaging 12.3 points and 10.4 rebounds while posting five double-doubles.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (3-5): Guard Kobe Bryant torched the Suns for a 38.7 average in three games last season. He scored 48 in one contest and 36 and 32 in the others and Phoenix surely wasn’t disappointed when he missed the fourth and final matchup. Bryant is averaging 26.7 points in 56 career games against the Suns. Bryant has scored 20 or more points seven times this season and is averaging 26.4 points. “Whether it’s an All-Star game or a pick-up game, he’s coming after you,” D’Antoni said. “That’s why he has the rings he has and has the career that he’s had. That’s not going to change.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split four meetings last season. Los Angeles has won seven of its last eight home games against Phoenix.
2. Lakers forward Paul Gasol is 28 points away from becoming the 10th foreign-born player to score 15,000 NBA points.
3. The Suns have allowed 100 or more points in five of the last six games, giving up an average of 107.5 during the stretch.