Duane Rankin, Arizona RepublicMon, December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM UTC·3 min readLOS ANGELES – The Phoenix Suns begin the first of four road games with a Monday, Dec. 1, matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Peacock is streaming the 8 p.m. MST game.
The Suns (12-9) have dropped their last two games, falling 123-119 at defending NBA champion Oklahoma City in NBA Cup group play on Nov. 28 and losing, 130-112, to the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 29 at home in the second of a back-to-back.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMark Williams is set to return after missing the Nuggets game with a listed sore right calf. He's not listed on the team's injury report for the Lakers' game. The 7-footer has yet to play the second of a back-to-back this season.
Ryan Dunn is listed as probable with a right wrist sprain. He's missed Phoenix's last five games. Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (right hip strain) remain out.
The Lakers are expected to have LeBron James back as he was ruled out for their Nov. 30 game with left foot injury management.
The Lakers (15-4) won their seventh straight game Nov. 30, beating the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, 133-121, at Crypto.com Arena. This will be the second of a back-to-back for the Lakers as they face Phoenix for the first of four times this season. The Lakers and Suns played twice in the preseason, with Phoenix winning both games.
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Lakers' coach: Suns 'a huge challenge'
Lakers' coach JJ Redick is impressed with the Suns so far this season.
“We've got an incredible challenge (Monday) with Phoenix,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said during his postgame news conference after the Pelicans game. “Those guys are playing great basketball. They're coming off a couple of losses to two of the best teams in the NBA (Oklahoma City and Denver). They play hard. They have an identity. That’s going to be a huge challenge.”
This is a return game for Suns coach Jordan Ott, who was an assistant for the Lakers for two seasons (2022-24). Ott is in his first season as an NBA head coach.
“That's a really good team that plays hard,” said Lakers guard Austin Reaves during a postgame interview on Spectrum SportsNet. “Jordan Ott has got them playing really hard, playing the right way. … "You love to see that. You love to see a guy like that winning.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRedick said before the Pelicans game that the plan is for James to play both games of a back-to-back as the season progresses, but he is expected back against Phoenix.
Making his season debut Nov. 18 against Utah, James has played four games in his NBA-record 23rd season after returning from sciatica, a nerve issue that hindered his lower back and down the right side of his body.
“We’re going to build him up to hopefully play in back-to-backs,” Redick said during a pregame news conference about James. “That’s the goal, but every back-to-back is a case-by-case. That’s the reality of the NBA right now. We want him to be able to play back-to-backs. So does he. We’re going to work towards that.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns-Lakers live updates as Phoenix faces red-hot Los Angeles
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