Luka Doncic will play when the Los Angeles Lakers conclude a four-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, though teammate Austin Reaves is sidelined with a left heel contusion and bone bruise, CBS Sports reported.
Why is Austin Reaves missing Sunday’s game?
Austin Reaves left during the third quarter of a 123-112 victory against the Milwaukee Brothers on Wednesday due to a left heel contusion and bone bruise, according to CBS Sports. Coach J.J. Redick stated on Saturday evening that Reaves would be ruled out for the matchup in Phoenix.
Redick previously said that Reaves did not require imaging.
“I would describe them both as killers,” Redick said. “That’s how they are going to approach every game, whether one guy’s out or not. I talked about Austin’s extreme belief in self, and both those guys have that.”
How has Luka Doncic performed lately?
Luka Doncic turned his right ankle in the third quarter of Wednesday’s win in Milwaukee but is not listed on the injury report for Sunday, CBS Sports reported. Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with 38.6 points per game. He also leads the league in 3-pointers with 60, three-point attempts with 147, free throws made with 9.4 per game, and free throw attempts with 10.8 per game.
Redick described an exchange during a recent road trip where he asked Doncic which defender he wanted to target on a switch.
“I went over to Luka in the fourth and I say, ‘Who do you want me to bring into the action?’” Redick said. “He said, ‘It doesn’t matter. I can score on anyone.’”
What are the team standings and recent streaks?
The Los Angeles Lakers enter Sunday on a seven-game winning streak. The team leads the NBA in scoring with 122.2 points per game, field goal percentage at 50.3 percent, steals at 11.0 per game, and points off turnovers at 24.5 per game.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have won four of their last five games and are playing the final contest of a season-long seven-game homestand, CBS Sports reported.
Phoenix secured a 133-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday with season highs in points and 3-pointers, followed by a 101-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday where they forced 27 turnovers despite a 52-31 rebounding deficit.
Can Phoenix handle the Lakers on the glass?
Center Walker Kessler averages a double-double with 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, a presence that could challenge a Phoenix squad that ranks last in the NBA with 38.9 rebounds per game, CBS Sports reported.
“These guys have been elite on the offensive glass for the last few games, and we like that,” Redick said, referencing Kessler and 6-foot-7 power forward Jake LaRavia, who has started the last nine games.
Phoenix guard Devin Booker scored 30 points against Charlotte for his fourth 30-point performance of the homestand.
Booker played 35 minutes on Thursday, while coach Jordan Ott utilized reserve guards Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Luke Kennard, who combined for 27 points and five 3-pointers. Jalen Green played 21 minutes and did not play in the fourth quarter.
“To be transparent, we’re still searching,” Booker told CBS Sports regarding the team’s lineup consistency. “We’re still finding. We’ve had parts of the game where we look really good with certain lineups, and certain lineups come in and we just can’t find that flow.”
Questions about the Lakers-Suns game and Luka Doncic's rankings
When and where is the Lakers-Suns game played?
The game takes place on Sunday to conclude the Lakers’ four-game road trip and the Suns’ seven-season homestand, as reported by CBS Sports.
What are Luka Doncic’s current league rankings?
Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with 38.6 points per game, along with leading in 3-pointers (60), three-point attempts (147), made free throws (9.4 per game), and free throw attempts (10.8 per game), according to CBS Sports.
Who did Phoenix defeat before facing the Lakers?
The Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 133-110 on Tuesday and edged the Charlotte Hornets 101-96 on Thursday, CBS Sports reported.