Suns will see Luka Doncic, more complete Lakers team in preseason finale

The Phoenix Suns will get a somewhat complete opposing Los Angeles Lakers roster for their final preseason tuneup on Tuesday.

Lakers star Luka Doncic will make his preseason debut, while likely starters Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves will also play at Mortgage Matchup Arena in Phoenix, Los Angeles head coach J.J. Redick told reporters Monday.

It’s the second preseason meeting between the Lakers and Suns.

Phoenix took the preseason opener, 103-81, over a Los Angeles squad that did not have Doncic or Smart. Potential starters Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Deandre Ayton played in that game.

Notably, forward LeBron James has missed the entirety of the Lakers’ preseason and, due to sciatica, will be sidelined several weeks into the regular season.

The Suns have used the preseason, including their last two games against the Brooklyn Nets in Macao, to gel the majority of their starting lineup.

While likely starters Jalen Green (hamstring) and Mark Williams (injury management) have been out, Devin Booker has played heavy minutes with Ryan Dunn, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen and Oso Ighodaro in the starting lineups so far.

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