On the prowl with a seven-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Lakers will close out a four-game homestand on a quick turnaround with a visit from the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
The most recent Los Angeles victory came Sunday, 133-121 against the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans. Luka Doncic scored 34 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists, while Austin Reaves added 33 points with eight assists.
The Lakers led 46-27 after one quarter and 77-57 at the half before holding off a late Pelicans push. The 46 points over the first 12 minutes was the team’s most in any quarter this season and tied for the fifth most in a first quarter in franchise history.
Los Angeles played without LeBron James, who was held out on the front end of a back-to-back with left foot soreness. James, who is expected back Monday, missed the first 14 games with sciatica.
“It’s a (foot) injury we’ve had to manage in the past,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Sunday. “Given the back-to-back and the fact that this is basically his training camp over the last 10 days or so, just being cautious.”
In four games since making his season debut Nov. 18, James has averaged 16.5 points with 8.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per contest.
Against the Pelicans on Sunday, the Lakers worked on defensive principles that figure to be a part of their identity moving forward. Los Angeles was toward the bottom third of the NBA with a 47.7% shooting percentage by opponents, before Sunday.
“We were 21st in deflections, steals and blocks last year and our numbers are better there,” Redick said. “I think some of that is personnel with (Marcus) Smart and Jake (LaRavia). Those guys have been really active for us. Luka is also high up there in terms of deflections and steals.”
Smart (back) has missed the past two games.
The Suns could use a defensive tuneup as well. Phoenix was on a run of four victories in five games before giving up 123 points in a road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and 130 points in a home defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
The Nuggets shot 57.9% from the floor Saturday, the second highest the Suns have allowed this season. Denver also shot 57.9% from 3-point range, the worst Phoenix has defended the outside all season.
The Suns welcomed back Grayson Allen from a right quad contusion Saturday after he missed seven games. He scored 10 points but missed five of his seven shots from 3-point range. Devin Booker scored 24 points but missed all four of his shots from deep.
Booker is shooting 31.1% from 3-point range, below his career mark of 35.3%.
“Transition is usually one of the only free (open 3-pointers) I get,” Booker told reporters Saturday. “If I’m off the ball, they’re always going to have somebody denying me. But I have had a few opportunities that I still missed while I was open. That’s life.”
Dillon Brooks is scoring 21.5 points in his first season in Phoenix, while Mark Williams leads with 9.2 rebounds but he did not play Saturday because of a calf soreness. Ryan Dunn (wrist) is close to a return after missing five games and is listed as probable to play Monday.
