Lakers vs. Suns Preview: Is an upset in the cards?

There’s good news and bad news for the Los Angeles Lakers after their disappointing loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The good news is that LeBron James is expected to return some time this week. The bad news is that it won’t be before their game against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

The Suns, in their second season under Monty Williams, are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with five games left in the regular season. If the NBA Playoffs started today, the Lakers would play them in the first-round, assuming they’d win their play-in game as well.

The Lakers might not mind that matchup with James, Dennis Schröder and Talen Horton-Tucker in uniform, but with all three still on the injury report, they’re going to struggle win on Sunday. That will be true even if Anthony Davis builds on his impressive outing against the Trail Blazers on Friday.

The Lakers and Suns will tip-off at 7 p.m. PT, and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.

Notes and Updates

• Jared Dudley (right MCL tear), LeBron James (right ankle sprain) and Dennis Schröder (health and safety protocols) are out.
• Kyle Kuzma (lower back tightness) is doubtful.
• Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker (right calf strain) are questionable.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right ankle sprain), Anthony Davis (right calf strain) and Marc Gasol (volar plate fracture, left pinkie finger) are probable.

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