Suns at Lakers
Rest isn't helping Kobe Bryant's shoulder heal and the 37-year-old is in
jeopardy of missing his second straight game when the Los Angeles
Lakers host the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Bryant hasn't played since
Sunday and sat out Tuesday's loss to the Sacramento Kings, but the
shoulder still was hurting Thursday to leave his availability uncertain.
Los Angeles coach Byron Scott termed Bryant questionable after he missed Thursday's practice and he is also concerned over some shaky transition defense during a three-game losing streak. "The one thing I do know about our young guys is they want to do the right thing," Scott told reporters. "It's just a matter of them understanding what those things are on a night-to-night basis and not going back to old habits." Phoenix has wrapped up a 50-loss season for the second time in four seasons and was annihilated 103-69 by the Utah Jazz on Thursday. The point total was a season low for the Suns, who shot 34.1 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona (Phoenix), TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SUNS (18-50): Veteran center Tyson Chandler had just two rebounds against the Jazz after averaging 11.7 during the previous three games. Chandler thought he was joining a team that was a playoff contender when he signed with Phoenix in the offseason and now is focused on setting a good example during the final 14 games. "We have to close out the season on a positive note," Chandler told reporters. "Players have to continue to grow, continue to show character, continue to understand the game plan. There has been a lot of different things thrown at us this year — things that players have had to adapt to — so we have to continue to grow in the new offense and the new defense."
ABOUT THE LAKERS (14-54): Shooting guard Jordan Clarkson has fallen into a three-game shooting slump and is just 13-of-44 shooting — including 2-of-17 from 3-point range — while averaging 9.7 points during the stretch. The funk followed a two-game span in which Clarkson averaged 24.5 points and made 9-of-19 3-point shots. "A lot of it is shot choices," Clarkson told reporters. "I feel like I've been shooting some bad shots these past games as well."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns have won five of the past six meetings.
2. Phoenix SG Devin Booker had just seven points on 3-of-14 shooting against Utah to halt a streak of 10 consecutive double-digit outings.
3. Los Angeles F Brandon Bass (corneal abrasion) could miss his second straight game.