PHOENIX SUNS

Suns’ injury report clean ahead of potential elimination game for Lakers

Apr 4, 2022, 4:32 PM
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives on Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers duri...
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives on Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Footprint Center on March 13, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns have one of their cleanest injury reports in a while ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Frank Kaminsky (knee) and Dario Saric (knee) remain long-term absences but no other Phoenix players are listed. This follows the Suns resting Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker and Jae Crowder for Sunday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, is listing Anthony Davis (right mid-foot sprain) and LeBron James (left ankle sprain) as questionable. Davis missed 18 games because of the injury before playing 37 and 35 minutes in his first two games back. James sat out two games after spraining the ankle on March 27. He returned on Friday before not playing on Sunday because of the ankle.

It is the Lakers’ biggest game of the year and could be one they need to win to keep their season alive after slipping in the standings the last couple of weeks.

The Lakers will enter Tuesday’s action two games back of the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference’s final play-in spot. The crucial bit of this is that the Spurs own the tiebreaker, so it’s essentially an extra game Los Angeles has to make up for.

The Lakers have four regular season games left and the Spurs start playing in Denver against the Nuggets 90 minutes before tip-off in Phoenix on Tuesday. If San Antonio wins, that means Los Angeles would be just one loss or Spurs win away from elimination, which could come later that night against the Suns.

That, of course, would have Phoenix end the Lakers’ season two years in a row.

The Suns are 3-0 against the Lakers in the regular season. When going back to last postseason, Phoenix has won the last six games between the two teams.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and you can tune in to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station to hear all the action.

Phoenix Suns

Incoming Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia claps during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Foo...
Character Counts

Suns owner Mat Ishbia, fan team up to give away suite tickets

New Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia is finding a new ways to ingratiate himself with the community by teaming up with fan, Andrew Leezus.
20 hours ago
Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after scoring in the second half against the Chicago Bu...
Arizona Sports

Suns’ Kevin Durant will return Wednesday vs. Timberwolves

Phoenix Suns GM and president of basketball operations James Jones said he expected Kevin Durant to play Wednesday against the Timberwolves.
20 hours ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on...
Kellan Olson

Devin Booker’s lifelong dream of Nike signature shoe reportedly on horizon

Devin Booker's completion rate on his bucket list puts just about all of us to shame. A signature shoe with Nike is the next box to check.
20 hours ago
Phoenix Suns Forward Kevin Durant (35) and Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker (1) looks on during a NB...
Kellan Olson

What to watch in Kevin Durant’s return, closing stretch of the season

Wednesday is expected to bring the home debut of Kevin Durant and the resumption of the Phoenix Suns' incorporation process.
20 hours ago
Karl-Anthony Towns #32and Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves react after Towns hit the g...
Kellan Olson

Timberwolves finally at full strength ahead of crucial matchup vs. Suns

The Phoenix Suns have a big-time game on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have a few things coming together right now.
2 days ago
Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, right, gets congratulations from Kevin Durant, left, and Devin Booker, mi...
Kevin Zimmerman

Mess of the West: Suns’ tiebreakers come into focus with 7 games left

Kevin Durant's return against the Minnesota Timberwolves could help the Phoenix Suns lock up an NBA standings tiebreaker.
20 hours ago
Suns’ injury report clean ahead of potential elimination game for Lakers