Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns
1/15/14
6:00 PM Pacific time / 9:00 PM Eastern Time
US Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ
TV: Local: TWC Sportsnet, TWC Deportes (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix) National: NBA League Pass
Line: Los Angeles Lakers +10
2013-14 Records:
Los Angeles Lakers: 14-24, 13th in the Western Conference
Phoenix Suns: 21-16, 8th in the Western Conference
Record vs. each other (2013-14 season): Phoenix Suns 2-0 vs. the Lakers this season.
- The Los Angeles Lakers are in a complete free fall; losers of 5 in a row and 11 of their last 12.
- Lakers are currently tied for the 7th worse record in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers who they lost to last night, 120-118, at Staples Center.
- For those fans that are cheering for ping pong balls in the lottery, if the Lakers can remain in the 7th spot in the draft lottery, they would have a 4.3 percent chance of winning the lottery and getting the 1st pick in the 2014 NBA draft. The Lakers would also have a 4.9 percent for winning the 2nd pick and 5.8 percent chance for the 3rd pick.
- Phoenix marks the beginning of the Lakers annual Grammy Award road trip which will take them to 7 NBA cities in 12 days. The Lakers won’t return to Staples Center until January 28th.
- The Suns come in struggling as well, having lost 3 in row and 5 of their last 7. The Suns have fallen to 8th in the Western Conference and have 3 teams within 3 games of overtaking them for the last playoff spot.
- The Suns will be without Eric Bledsoe for some time due to him injuring his right knee. Bledsoe underwent surgery and his recovery period has been projected to be around 4 to 6 weeks.
- The Suns have had no problems with the Lakers this season. Suns beat the Lakers, 117-90, on December 23rd; Gerald Green came off the bench to lead all scorers with 22 points. The Suns dominated the boards, 62 to 39, with Miles Plumlee doing most of the damage, pulling down 20 rebounds to go nicely with his 17 points on the night.
- The Lakers didn’t fair much better in their first match against the Suns on 12/10, losing 114-108. The Suns’ back court was spectacular, the tandem of Bledsoe and Dragic scoring a combined 49 points and 14 assists. The Lakers were much healthier at this time, having both Kobe Bryant and Steve Blake in the starting line up.
– Fern Rea “@fullcourtfern”
Raining3s 