The Lakers (12-9) are set for a quarterfinal matchup of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament against the Phoenix Suns (12-8). The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. Pacific on Spectrum SportsNet.
Below are three things to know ahead of the matchup:
ALL EYEZ ON ME
Tupac Shakur delivered the greatest record in hip hop history in 1996, as he became familiar with the feeling of having, from his perspective, ALL of the eyes focused on him.
In sports, that’s typically a feeling that doesn’t come until the postseason, when so many teams have been eliminated that there are only a few squads left standing. The NFL does tap into that element in their featured games on Sunday and Monday night in particular, and I put that question to Anthony Davis, who’s someone a huge Green Bay Packers fan despite his Chicago roots.
“Yeah … it kind of reminds you of Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, even playoffs in the later rounds where it’s the only game on TV and everyone is locked in,” he offered. “It gives you that feel for sure.”
Indeed, the eyes of the NBA will be focused upon the Bucks and the Knicks, and then the Lakers and Suns, on Tuesday evening, with a trip to Las Vegas for Thursday’s semifinal on the line.
Both teams have several players that have played in premium NBA games before, from LeBron and AD to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, so there won’t be any particular advantage there either way.
L.A. may have a slight advantage in being as healthy as they’ve been, with only Gabe Vincent expected to be out, while the Suns are without Bradley Beal, who has played only three games this season, including a 24-point effort against the Lakers on Nov. 10.
The winner will head to Las Vegas for a Thursday matchup with New Orleans in the IST Semifinals, after the Pelicans defeated Sacramento on Monday evening.
PREVIOUSLY IN LAKERS VS. SUNS
This will actually be the fourth time since the start of the preseason that the Lakers have faced the Suns.
Oct. 19: PHX 123, LAL 100 (preseason)
Oct. 26: LAL 100, PHX 95
Nov. 10: LAL 122, PHX 119
Most notable in the preseason contest: Anthony Davis absolutely dominated Jusuf Nurkic, blocking five of his shots personally, and helping to hold him to 1 for 11 FG’s. The Lakers had a 4-point lead at halftime, before resting most of their starters in the second half. Neither Beal nor Devin Booker played for the Suns.
In the regular season home opener for LAL: both Booker and Beal were out again, though Kevin Durant nearly helped Phoenix steal a game regardless, with 39 points to lead all scorers. The Suns got off to a great start, leading LAL 30-18 after 12 minutes, with the Lakers fighting back to get within four at halftime. Then PHX pushed their lead back to 12 entering a final frame that was completely dominated by the Lakers, who outscored the Suns 28-11, using Christian Wood on KD in an unconventional defensive group, and getting 23 combined points from LeBron and AD in the period.
Beal was back for the Nov. 10 matchup in Phoenix, the first IST game for each team, and again, Phoenix got off to a strong start, leading by nine after the 1st Q, and eight at the half. LAL outscored the Suns 34-33 in the 3rd, and then again dominated the 4th period, outscoring Phoenix 33-23. Cam Reddish hit three triples in the 4th Q, and Austin Reaves had five assists plus 3 of 3 FG’s in the period to enable a come-from-behind victory.
Booker returned to action on Nov. 17, and playing as the team’s PG, he’s led them to eight wins in nine games when he plays, most recently a 116-109 win over Memphis, featuring his 34 points, 10 boards and seven assists. His 8.4 assists per game are tied with Luka Doncic for 5th in the NBA, and they’re clearly a different team with him on the court.
In fact, Davis said the Lakers prep work for the Suns was different precisely because of Booker, and the different dimension he gives them.
With Booker alongside Durant, Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon, Phoenix has outscored opponents by 26.2 points per 100 possessions in 69 minutes, the 3rd-best net ranking in the NBA (minimum 60 minutes).
LAKERS STYLE OF PLAY
In the second quarter of L.A.’s 107-97 win over Houston, they outscored the Rockets 35-14, with a defensive blitzkrieg that featured a 25-2 run.
“Yeah that was a good stint,” said LeBron when I asked him about it. “That’s probably one of the best quarters we’ve had this year, especially in the first half. It came defending, sharing the ball, moving the ball, and AR was special in the second*.”
*Austin Reaves scored 15 points in the quarter on 5 of 6 FG’s and 4 of 4 FT’s.
“To me our shifts, our activity, attention to detail, competing on the ball, being aware off the ball, great rim protection and defensive rebounding,” added Darvin Ham. “Just being good early, communicating and figuring it out in between, and finishing the defensive possession and holding them to only one shot.”
Ham acknowledged the difference in the roster in having the athletic wings back, with players like Vanderbilt, Hachimura and Reddish missing so many recent games collectively.
“The athleticism and the size that we have on our wings between Taurean, Cam, Max, Vando … including LeBron and AD and Rui (returning). It’s a plethora of really quick, larger, athletic and skilled wings. That’s what’s been the most challenging part of not having all those guys in the lineup together. But that day will come, and will come soon, and we got a little glimpse of what it would look like tonight.”