Tipoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
TV: SportsNet LA (LAL) / AZFamily / Suns+ (PHX) | Radio: 710 ESPN LA / KMVP 98.7
Game Context
The Lakers are 18-11 on the road, a strong 20-10 vs. West. They remain firmly in the playoff mix but have hit a recent rough patch, dropping two straight while navigating a gauntlet of games. The Suns are battling for play-in positioning but have been plagued by injuries and offensive droughts, sitting just one game behind the Lakers in the standings. This is a critical Pacific Division matchup with direct seeding implications in a crowded West.
Recent Team Forms (Last 10 Games)
Lakers: 6-4 (mixed bag; W2 before recent skid).
Averaging ~115.6 PPG offensively but allowing 115.9 PPG. Recent results: L 110-109 vs. ORL (Feb 25), L 89-111 vs. BOS (Feb 22), W 125-122 vs. LAC (Feb 21), W 124-104 vs. DAL (Feb 13), L 108-136 vs. SA (Feb 11). They’ve shown resilience in close games but struggled defensively in blowout losses.
Suns: 3-7 (L2 streak, poor offensive stretch).
Averaging just ~101-106 PPG recently while allowing ~111-113 PPG. Recent results: L 81-97 vs. BOS (Feb 24), L 77-92 vs. POR (Feb 22), W 113-110 (2OT) vs. ORL (Feb 21), L 94-121 @ SA (Feb 20), L 109-136 vs. OKC (Feb 12). Extremely low-scoring outputs in losses highlight major spacing/creation issues without key pieces.
Injury Report
Los Angeles Lakers
- Probable: Jaxson Hayes (C – right ankle sprain)
- Questionable: Rui Hachimura (F – illness)
Core stars (LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Luka Dončić) are available and expected to play full minutes.
Phoenix Suns (severely depleted)
- Out: Devin Booker (G – right hip strain, est. return early March)
- Out: Dillon Brooks (F – left hand fracture, est. return late March)
- Out: Jordan Goodwin (G – left calf strain, est. return early March)
- Out: Haywood Highsmith (F – right knee injury, est. return early March)
- Out / Not with team: Cole Anthony (G)
Phoenix is missing its top scorer (Booker), a key wing defender/scorer (Brooks), and multiple rotation pieces — forcing heavy reliance on unproven depth and makeshift lineups.
Projected Starters & Key Player Matchups
Lakers (Projected): G Luka Dončić, G Austin Reaves, F LeBron James, F Rui Hachimura (or replacement), C Anthony Davis / Jaxson Hayes
Suns (Projected, makeshift): G (limited options), G, F, F, C (thin frontcourt)
Key Matchups
- Luka Dončić / LeBron James vs. Suns depleted perimeter: LA’s superstar duo exploits massive mismatches in creation, spacing, and transition without Booker/Brooks.
- Anthony Davis / Jaxson Hayes vs. Suns frontcourt: AD dominates the paint/boards/rim protection against a short-handed Suns interior.
- Rebounding & Pace: Lakers rank top-10 in rebounding margin lately; Suns struggle without depth (recent games show 30-40 rebounds). Expect LA to control glass and push tempo.
- Defensive Intensity: Suns have flashes of steals/blocks but lack consistency without starters — Lakers can generate easy transition buckets.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
This is the 4th meeting. Suns currently lead the season series 2-1:
- Dec 1, 2025 (@ LAL): Suns 125-108
- Dec 14, 2025 (@ PHX): Lakers 116-114
- Dec 23, 2025 (@ PHX): Suns 132-108
All three prior games were competitive/high-scoring until the latest blowout. With Suns’ current injury situation, history favors the healthier side dramatically.
Betting Trends
- Lakers: Excellent 26-8 ATS when scoring >111.4 PPG; strong as road favorites (implied win prob ~66%). They are 15-8 ATS when holding opponents under 112.1 PPG.
- Suns: 0-5 ATS in last 5; poor 4-14 as +164 or longer underdogs. Home games have trended under recently amid offensive woes.
- Head-to-head: Mixed ATS, but Lakers covered in their lone win.
- Over/Under: League-wide unders in low-scoring Suns home games lately; this total is well below both teams’ season implied averages.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Lakers – 5.5
Phoenix Suns 220.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
