Suns at Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are winners of back-to-back games and can clinch a winning four-game homestand when they host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Lakers, who knocked off Indiana and Dallas in the last two games, are getting strong performances from the supporting cast around superstar LeBron James.
James recently acknowledged that he is struggling with when to dominate games and when to defer to his teammates and found the right balance on Friday, when he scored 28 points to lead six scorers in double figures. "We have the ability to be able to have multiple guys put the ball in the basket, but when it comes, it comes with our ball movement and the way we play with pace," James told reporters. "That was the result of it tonight." The Suns don't have the same type of balance on offense and managed just 85 points with Devin Booker and TJ Warren sidelined in a loss to Orlando on Friday. Booker (foot) and Warren (ankle) average a combined 42.2 points and are both day-to-day.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SUNS (4-18): Phoenix rookie center Deandre Ayton scored 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting in Friday's setback and felt the team should have been able to win even with Booker and Warren out. "We've just got to find a way to finish these games," Ayton told reporters. "...Everybody's competing. Try to go back and look at some of the numbers. It's kind of confusing because I'm like, I know everybody was playing hard today, but we still lose." Ayton is averaging 16.5 points on 61.2 percent shooting and 10.2 rebounds.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (13-9): Kyle Kuzma is trying to find his role in James' offense and looked comfortable on Friday, when he collected 15 points to go with season highs of 12 rebounds and six assists. Small forward Brandon Ingram is picking up his level of play as well and is averaging 17.6 points over the last five contests after springing for 19 in the win over the Mavericks. Kuzma and Ingram are also key parts of a defensive effort that held Dallas to 39.5 percent shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lakers C Tyson Chandler, who was signed after being waived by Phoenix, recorded his first double-double since joining Los Angeles with 13 points and 12 rebounds on Friday.
2. Suns SG Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 18 points in 31 minutes off the bench on Friday.
3. James recorded 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a 131-113 win at Phoenix on Oct. 24.