Western Conference foes face each other for a second time in 11 days to end Phoenix’s preseason.
Who: Los Angeles Lakers (1-2) vs. Phoenix Suns (3-1)
When: 7:00 PM Arizona Time
Where: The Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Watch: TNT
It’s the last time for at least about six months that Suns fans should not be angry, anxious, or agitated at the result of a game. That’s a good and a bad thing for the Valley fanbase. Obviously, it signals that the NBA season is near and almost here, but also, high-tense moments that put fans in frenzies are now upon us.
No better way to spend the Suns’ last preseason game of the 2024-25 battling with the Lakeshow!
When these teams played the last time, the main story wasn’t the Valley’s victory, or Oso Ighodaro’s five assists in his first preseason game, it was LeBron James and his son Bronny James sharing the court for the first time.
LeBron James. Bronny James.
The father-son duo share the court for the first time together! pic.twitter.com/93hC7k64gK
— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2024
That won’t be the main story for this one though. In this nationally televised battle, the Valley will get its last crack at things before they count and matter.
Starting Lineups
Injury Report
Suns
Grayson Allen – OUT (Achilles)
Josh Okogie – OUT (Hamstring Soreness)
Lakers
Armel Traore – OUT (Hand)
Jarred Vanderbilt – OUT (Foot)
Christian Koloko – OUT (Illness)
Christian Wood – OUT (Knee)
What to Watch For
Can Ryan keep up his great preseason shooting? Or is it Dunn with? The rookie went 6-11 from three last game against the Nuggets, including a step back three over reigning MVP and NBA Champion Nikola Jokić.
Bro Ryan Dunn is hitting stepback 3s on Jokic ONG IVE SEEN ENOUGH PUT HIM UP BUD IMPACT GUY ALREADY ☀️ pic.twitter.com/gAOoScwSEx
— ☆ (@Stunna999_) October 14, 2024
The rookie’s three-point shooting has gotten the Phoenix fan base excited. He’s already made more threes in four preseason games than he did all of last season at Virginia. Knocking them down at a ridiculous 44% on 6.75 attempts a game, his shooting has NBA experts already calling him a steal of the draft.
Suns got a steal in Ryan Dunn
Here’s me and @DanTitus getting hyped about Dunn, Tyus Jones, and the new-look Phoenix Suns https://t.co/eDqH8uj02f pic.twitter.com/kggWcaRSKh
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 15, 2024
The excitement is high in the Valley for the University of Virginia product, and Bright Side is all over the excitement from the fans and media.
Additionally, Jusuf Nurkić is slated to make his preseason debut, per Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
Sources: Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić (finger) who hasn’t played this preseason, plans to make his debut in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/vfQ37A3T1X
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 16, 2024
Keys to a Suns Win
If the Suns can keep the three attempts up, they can win the math battle against the Lakers. In the last game, the Valley made 44.2% of their threes on 52 attempts, helping them beat the Denver Nuggets.
More important than a win, can the Suns keep the good energy and vibes that have been with them since the end of last season with them to the regular season?
Whether that’s a win or a strong performance from an unlikely cast member, the Suns seem to be in a good spot as a team, something that seemed unfathomable to many after they got swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.
Prediction
Give me the Valley to take the win over the Lakers. Expect the starters to not play too much but get some good runs together for the last time before the season starts next Wednesday against the Clippers.
Suns 107, Lakers 99