LA Lakers return home, look to end NBA losing skid against Phoenix Suns

LOS ANGELES – As Los Angeles coach J.J. Redick has noted, it was not too long ago that the Lakers were riding an eight-game win streak and considered serious National Basketball Association (NBA) title contenders.

Much has changed and after completing a disappointing 0-4 road trip, the Lakers (40-25) will look to regroup when they return home on March 16 (March 17, Singapore time) to face the Phoenix Suns (31-36).

Los Angeles have fallen to fifth spot in the Western Conference after losing 131-126 to the Denver Nuggets on March 14, when they played without three starters.

In addition to LeBron James (left groin strain), Luka Doncic (left calf injury management and right ankle sprain), and Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), the team were without Jaxson Hayes (right knee bruise), Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle injury management) and Gabe Vincent (left knee injury management).

While James is expected to be sidelined for another week, the Lakers are hoping to have Doncic and the others back in the line-up as soon as their clash against the Suns.

Despite coming up short against Denver, guard Austin Reaves was encouraged by the team’s effort.

Los Angeles led 126-123 with 52 seconds remaining before the Nuggets escaped with the home win.

“We know when we are fully healthy and got everybody on the team that we have a really good chance to beat anybody,” he said.

“I just see this group, coming together, locking in on one common goal and that’s to win.

“And (against Denver) I think is the biggest testament to that. Very short-handed and went and played a really good basketball team... And went toe-to-toe and had an opportunity to win it and just didn’t execute the last 50 seconds.”

The Lakers are seeking a season split against Phoenix after losing two of the first three meetings.

The Suns are in 11th in the Western Conference, but their chances for a spot in the play-in tournament improved with a 122-106 home win over the Sacramento Kings on March 14.

Phoenix made 24 three-pointers and scored a season-high 38 points off 19 Sacramento turnovers.

“Quite a few points off turnovers for us, which it’s great to see that in the kind of reverse of what’s happened to us too many nights,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said.

“I think it helps. It helps everybody get a good feel, get some easy baskets off of turnovers and then just play fast and play random, you know. So, it was helpful.”

The Suns played without Grayson Allen (left foot strain) and Nick Richards (right ankle sprain), and had to rely on reserves Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro after Mason Plumlee was ejected for the second straight game.

Meanwhile in NBA action on March 15, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 48 points and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted hosts Detroit Pistons 113-107.

Cason Wallace had 20 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 12 with 10 rebounds for the Western Conference-leading Thunder (55-12), who have won nine of their last 10.

The win came after an ESPN report that the NBA is looking into why Oklahoma City did not play their five starters in a game on March 7 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The game in question was won 107-89 by the Thunder, who did not start Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams.

The NBA is looking to see whether the team violated the league’s player participation policy, per ESPN.

Gilgeous-Alexander, a leading MVP candidate, was listed as being out with rest. Dort sat out with a sore right knee, Holmgren was out with a lower right leg bruise and Hartenstein with a broken nose, according to the Thunder.

Reserve Cason Wallace also did not play, reportedly due to a bruised right knee, and Williams was said to have been nursing a right wrist sprain. REUTERS