NBA Game of the Week: Lakers vs. Suns

The Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns for the second time this season on Friday, November 9th. The first time these two teams faced off it was in Los Angeles. This time around, the Lakers will travel on the road and play in the Footprint Center.

This matchup for both teams will be their time playing in the NBA in-season tournament.

The two biggest names in basketball for the past decade will battle it out yet again in just a 2 week time period.

Before October 19, 2023, which was the Suns and Lakers preseason matchup, Lebron James and Kevin Durant had not battled against each other since Christmas day in the year 2018.

Their history of playing one another goes back to when James played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and when Durant played with the Golden State Warriors.

Both of their teams made it to the finals in the years of 2018 and 2019. Durant defeated James in both years. Their battles were always head-to-head with Durant averaging 29.8 in those two years and James slightly behind averaging 28.6.

Outside of 38-year-old Lebron James, the Lakers are led by All-star center Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell.

James is averaging 24.4 points per game while playing 35 minutes a game. While Davis is right behind him sitting at 23.9 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounds snagging 12 per game.

Despite all the star power, the Lake Show has been off to a pretty rough start this season. After coming off a 34-point loss versus the Houston Rockets, they are now on a three-game losing streak. That dropped to a record below .500.

They currently sit at 11th seed in the Western Conference at 3-4. The other three teams they lost to were the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Sacramento Kings.

Davis did not play against Houston because of a hip injury and is questionable going to Friday's game against the Suns.

Phoenix is led by Kevin Durant, star guard Devin Booker, and the addition of 3 time all-star Bradley Beal.

It also has been quite a rocky start to the season for this Suns team. They currently sit at 7th in the West and have a 4-4 record.

This team's struggles can be partially attributed to the injuries that Booker and Beal faced.

It’s been a rough start to the season for Booker while only playing in two games so far. On opening night, Booker suffered an ankle sprain and missed his next three games. He then returned against the Spurs but suffered yet another injury with a right calf strain.

Beal was dealing with back spasms at the start of the season and missed 6 straight games. He made his debut on Nov. 8 against the Chicago Bulls scoring 13 points and shooting 50% from deep.

Every night, Durant fought hard for his team averaging 29.8 per game, despite the absence of two main players.

Bookers averaged 31 in his two games played. It will be vital to have more offensive weapons alongside Durant in order for the Suns to regain a top seed in the West.

These two have played a total of 264 games all-time, and Los Angeles has the upper hand with 34 more wins than Phoenix.

After the matchup on Friday, they will face off two more times in the regular season before postseason play.

Kiera Baker is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email ksb5617@psu.edu