PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns get a break before facing the NBA’s hottest team: the Los Angeles Lakers will be without guard Austin Reaves when the teams meet Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mortgage Matchup Center, Arizona Sports reported.
Reaves, who is averaging 24.7 points, was ruled out Saturday with a left heel contusion and bone bruise and did not practice, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. It will be his second missed game of the season.
That still leaves Luka Doncic, who leads the league at 38.6 points per game and has powered the Lakers (11-2) to a seven-game winning streak and the NBA’s best record, according to the NBA’s game preview. Doncic turned his right ankle Wednesday in Milwaukee but is not on the injury report.
Phoenix (5-6) has won four of its last five and closes a season-long, seven-game homestand. The Suns routed the Clippers 133-110 on Tuesday, then beat Charlotte 101-96 on Thursday after forcing 27 turnovers, according to the team’s game notes. Devin Booker scored 30 against the Hornets, his fourth 30-point game of the homestand, and passed Tracy McGrady on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Rebounding is the concern. Phoenix ranks last in the league at 38.9 rebounds per game, and Lakers center Walker Kessler averages 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds.
“Limit the free throw line as much as you can. Limit his 3s as much as we can,” Suns forward Ryan Dunn told the Arizona Republic about defending Doncic.
The only Suns player on the injury report is center Mark Williams, who had surgery in September. Phoenix won last season’s series 3-2 and has won five of its last six home games against the Lakers.
Sources: Arizona Sports, NBA.com, Phoenix Suns game notes, Arizona Republic. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Photograph: NASA / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
