Suns vs Lakers November 26th 2024
At 10:00 ET, the Lakers will travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns. The Lakers are currently 10-6 and are 4th in the Western Conference. They are also 2nd in the Pacific Division and have lost two straight games. The Suns are 9-7 and are 7th in the West. They are 4th in the Pacific and have lost five straight games.
Phoenix is favored by 3.5 points and the over/under line is set at 234. The game will be played at Footprint Center and can be seen on TNT.
Lakers vs. Suns Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns
- Where: Phoenix at Footprint Center
- Date: Tuesday, November 26th
- Betting Odds PHO -3.5, LAL +137 | PHO -162 O/U 234
The Lakers Can Win If…
The Lakers dropped to 10-6 on the season after a 127-102 home loss to the Nuggets on Saturday. Los Angeles entered the game as -3.5 point favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 229 points fell short of the 235.5-point over/under line.
After a 12-0 run in the 2nd quarter, the Lakers took control, but Denver responded by outscoring them 37-15 in the 3rd quarter. The Nuggets continued to dominate in the 4th, outscoring the Lakers 33-24.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 19 points in their 127-102 loss to the Nuggets, adding 12 of those in the 1st quarter. He also connected on 3 threes, shooting 42.9% from deep and 53.8% overall. LeBron James followed with 18 points, 9 of which came in the 2nd quarter, while Anthony Davis contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, despite hitting just 31.6% of his shots.
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The Lakers made 13 threes, shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc, but struggled overall, finishing with a 44.3% field goal percentage. Max Christie added 12 points, 7 of which came in the 4th quarter.
The Lakers struggled defensively against the Nuggets, giving up 127 points on 61% shooting. Denver scored 31 points in the 1st quarter and 37 in the 3rd, with the Lakers allowing 33 points in the 4th.
From beyond the arc, the Nuggets hit 16 threes at a 50% rate. The Lakers sent Denver to the line 19 times, where they made 11 free throws. Defensively, the Lakers recorded 11 steals and 3 blocks.
- In their last five games away from home, the Lakers have a straight up record of 3-2 while going 1-4 vs the spread. The team averaged 114 points per game in this stretch.
- Through their last five games as the betting underdog, the Lakers have a strong record vs the spread going 3-2. Their straight up mark in these contests is 1-4.
- Over their last three games, the Lakers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.
The Suns Can Win If…
The Suns fell to 9-7 on the season after a 138-122 home loss to the Knicks on Wednesday. Phoenix entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 260, well over the pre-game line of 226.5.
The Knicks took control early with an 11-0 run, turning a 6-3 deficit into a 14-6 lead. Phoenix trailed 44-28 after the 1st quarter and couldn’t close the gap, despite keeping things closer in the following quarters. Heading into the 4th, the Suns were down 110-93 and couldn’t mount a comeback.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 33 points and 5 assists in their 138-122 loss to the Knicks, shooting 52.2% from the field. Royce O’Neale added 17 points, hitting 5 threes at a 50% clip, while Tyus Jones contributed 15 points and 10 assists, connecting on 3 threes.
Phoenix hit 19 threes as a team, shooting 38% from deep and 48.9% overall. Booker scored 12 points in the 1st quarter, while O’Neale added 9 in the 3rd.
The Suns struggled defensively on Wednesday, giving up 138 points to the Knicks. Phoenix allowed 44 points in the 1st quarter and 34 in the 3rd, with New York shooting 58% from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Knicks hit 19 threes at a 48% clip. The Suns sent New York to the line 21 times, where they made 19 free throws. Defensively, Phoenix recorded 9 steals and 2 blocks.
- Phoenix has a 2-3 record in their last five home games. In this stretch, they averaged 107 points per game while allowing 114. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Suns have gone 2-8 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 8-2.
- In their last five games, the Suns have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 0-5 vs. the spread.
The Lean
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +3.5, the Lakers is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 234 and given that our model is projecting 245 points between the teams, we like the over.
Suns Welcome Back Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal for NBA Cup Matchup with Lakers
The Phoenix Suns are set to receive a significant boost as they aim to break a five-game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup contest. The return of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, both recovering from left calf strains, couldn’t come at a better time for the struggling Suns.
Durant and Beal Set to Return
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed Monday that Durant and Beal are probable to play after successfully participating in back-to-back practices. The dynamic duo’s absence has been deeply felt, with Phoenix going 1-6 in games missed by Durant and winless in five contests without Beal.
“I definitely feel a lot better,” Beal said during practice. “I’m thankful we had the schedule we had so we had some rest days, Kev and I.”
Durant, 36, has been exceptional this season, averaging 27.6 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc. Beal, 31, has contributed 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Rookie forward Ryan Dunn expressed optimism about the duo’s return.
“Bringing that extra firepower back to the team is going to help us out a lot,” Dunn said.
Suns Look to End Skid
Phoenix has struggled mightily during its five-game losing streak, with four of those losses coming by double digits. Their most recent outing, a 138-122 loss to the New York Knicks, highlighted defensive lapses and a lack of cohesion.
With nearly a week off since that defeat, the Suns have used the time to regroup and refocus.
“It’s pretty rare to get this amount of time,” said guard Grayson Allen. “We could do a lot of teaching … with not having to scout for another team.”
Lakers Searching for Consistency
The Lakers enter the contest with a 2-0 record in NBA Cup group play, leading West Group B, but have dropped their last two regular-season games. Most recently, they suffered a 127-102 blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets, where they were outscored 70-39 in the second half.
Coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words after the defeat.
“Clearly, the spirit to compete just wasn’t there,” Redick said.
LeBron James had 18 points but struggled with turnovers, committing six against Denver and accumulating 33 miscues over the last six games. Anthony Davis, who had been a model of consistency with 20-plus points in his first 14 games this season, managed just 14 points on 6-of-19 shooting in the loss.
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Despite his poor showing, Davis remains confident.
“I just missed shots. I think all great looks,” Davis said. “It’s a miss-or-make league. I’ll make more than I’ll miss, for sure.”
Key Matchups: Durant vs. Davis and Reaves’ Impact
Tuesday’s game marks the third meeting between the Suns and Lakers this season, with the teams splitting their first two matchups in late October. Durant scored 30 points in both games, while Davis averaged 32 in those contests.
Austin Reaves has also been a standout against Phoenix, posting two of his five 20-point games this season against the Suns. Reaves scored 26 points, including five 3-pointers, in the Lakers’ 123-116 home win on Oct. 25, and followed it up with 23 points in a 109-105 loss in Phoenix on Oct. 28.
NBA Cup Stakes
This matchup has added significance as part of the NBA Cup competition. The Lakers, last year’s inaugural champions, lead the group at 2-0, while the Suns sit at 1-1. The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1), San Antonio Spurs (1-1), and Utah Jazz (0-2) round out West Group B.
With Durant and Beal back in action, the Suns will look to make a statement and reassert themselves in both the NBA Cup and the regular-season standings. Meanwhile, the Lakers aim to bounce back and maintain their perfect NBA Cup record.
Will the Suns’ reinforcements lead them to victory, or will the Lakers find their groove and continue their dominance in group play? Tuesday’s game promises to deliver high-stakes drama on the court.