All Lakers Expert Predictions For Second Phoenix-LA Matchup Of Season

Tonight, ahead of your 3-5 Los Angeles Lakers' second matchup of the season against the 4-4 Phoenix Suns, we here at All Lakers are ready to unpack all your burning questions.

Los Angeles will play its first In-Season Tournament competition of the season. It will suit up for three other such matchups this month, before single-game elimination competition kicks off in December.

Which Lakers role player needs to step up as a scorer against a still-dangerous Suns team?

I'd like to see LA's starting backcourt, currently earning a combined $29.3 million this season, take charge of the offense a bit more.

Starting point guard D'Angelo Russell hasn't been shooting the three-ball as well as one would hope (32% on 6.3 triples a game), but overall he has been good and aggressive in looking for his shot. That needs to continue tonight. Starting shooting guard Austin Reaves has had some wildly variable scoring results. He has made more than 57% of his takes in three games, though he's also shot below 39% from the floor in four. Here's hoping D-Lo and Reaves get their rears in gear tonight.

Can Rui Hachimura have another big night? But unlike Wednesday, will it positively impact winning?

In 25:34 against the Houston Rockets Wednesday, Hachimura (LA's third pricey returning free agent this summer, earning $15.7 million) looked like his 2023 playoffs-era self. He scored 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field (2-of-3 from deep), pulled down eight rebounds, dished out two assists, grabbed two steals and blocked one shot. It didn't stop Los Angeles from getting decimated by 34 points, 128-94.

He's had a very erratic season across his four available contests, failing to score more than seven points twice. Given that LA is still suffering a rash of injuries (though Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes may both be back tonight), I think it's entirely possible Darvin Ham will be pressed into playing the 6'8" Gonzaga product enough minutes that he'll at least score in double digits.

Phoenix is a -2 favorite to win tonight. Can LA pull off the upset and get its first road victory of the season?

The Suns have won two straight contests, though they've struggled to find a great rhythm of late, given absences to stars Devin Booker (who's out tonight) and Bradley Beal (who's playing in just his second game of the year tonight), and are just 1-2 at home. LA did beat Phoenix during their first encounter this season, 100-95, although the Suns were missing both Booker and Beal then, and the Lakers were healthier. Los Angeles has also lost every road game it's played this season, by an average margin of 14.2 points. I think it'll happen again, and I think it'll happen by more than that -2 margin.

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