Lakers at Suns
The arrival of LeBron James isn't translating into victories as the winless Los Angeles Lakers visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. James missed a potential winning 3-pointer in Monday's 143-142 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs as his new club dropped to 0-3.
James maintains he isn't frustrated by the winless start -- "I know what I got myself into," he said -- but it is clear he is expecting some victories to soon be part of the equation. "We're going to continue to get better," James said after the loss to the Spurs. "I like the direction we're going in. Obviously, it's not resulting in the wins right now, but it's such a long process." Phoenix has dropped back-to-back contests but is pleased with building block Deandre Ayton, who had 20 points and 14 rebounds in Monday's 123-103 loss to the Golden State Warriors. "Every game I play I learn from it," Ayton told reporters. "This game I learned about how fast we can move. Those guys are grown men and they were running faster than us. We've just got to keep up our energy and not come out slow and really lock in on defense."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
ABOUT THE LAKERS (0-3): James recorded 32 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds in the loss to San Antonio but is just 3-of-19 from 3-point range after missing the game's last shot. "We'll take LeBron going to his left on a step-back jumper for game every single night," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton said after the contest. "He is going to hit most of those. Players making plays." Small forward Kyle Kuzma was the team's best player on Monday as he poured in 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting and collected eight rebounds in 45 minutes.
ABOUT THE SUNS (1-2): Small forward TJ Warren is serving in a reserve role after the offseason additions of Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza and he played the part well in the loss to Golden State by scoring 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting in 24 minutes. The fifth-year pro accepted the challenge of being sixth man and has been a "spark plug" in the eyes of star shooting guard Devin Booker. "No matter what's going on, he can play well," Booker told reporters. "He knows how to play the game of basketball and it shows. He's that piece that we need."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers went 3-1 against the Suns last season.
2. Booker has scored at least 25 points in all three games and is averaging 29.3.
3. Los Angeles SF Brandon Ingram will miss the second of a four-game suspension and PG Rajon Rondo will sit out the second of a three-game suspension related to their actions in Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets.