Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns (-1, 214)
Healing time
Phoenix has won 14 of its last 18 games after a 3-8 stretch in mid January. The Suns vaulted themselves back into fifth place in the Western Conference and had a nice rest heading into Friday’s meeting with the Lakers.
The Suns have had five days off, having not played since last Saturday’s home win over Indiana. That extra time has given key players some needed rest.
Guard Leandro Barbosa is expected to make his return from wrist surgery against the Lakers Friday after missing 21 straight games.
Barbosa said his right arm is still "a little weak" and there is some swelling.
"I'm very hungry to come back and help my teammates," he told reporters. "We'll see what happens."
Steve Nash and Goran Dragic also used this time to rehab their nagging injuries. Nash was dealing with back and abdominal injuries while Dragic was dealing with an ankle injury.
The NBA suspended Suns center Channing Frye one game without pay for his part in an altercation that took place last Saturday. They will be without their spark-plug off the bench and his 11.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG and his ability to stretch the defense (leads team in 3-pointers made).
Tough days for L.A.
The Lakers hadn’t lost three straight games since acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis in February of 2008, at least until a three-game road trip through Miami, Charlotte and Orlando ended that streak. They nearly made it four straight in a home game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday.
But, of course, Kobe Bryant had the answer, nailing a game-winning baseline jumper with 1.9 seconds on the clock – his seventh game-winning shot this season. Although the Lakers won the game in exciting fashion, there was a somber mood in the locker room afterwards.
When asked if this team had the same consistent urgency of last season, coach Phil Jackson told the media, "I don't think so. We don't have that. Not that we can't reclaim it at some point. That's what we're trying to do."
"The urgency of playing well has not struck us yet,” Jackson added.
Other contenders now believe they can beat the Lakers, which is the first big step toward doing so.
"What's crazy about it is that these teams are getting confidence they can beat us," forward Lamar Odom told the press. "You can see it in their body language. There's a lot more talking. There's extra animation, even when they come here."
They are just 3-5 in their last eight games and just 8-9 overall this season against potential contenders (teams currently in the top four spots of Eastern and Western conference standing).
The Lakers, losers of four straight away from home, have three straight Western Conference road games on the upcoming schedule, starting with Phoenix Friday.
Head to head
The last meeting between these two was in Phoenix on December 28. The Suns held a lead nearly the entire game (led by 22 points at one point) and shot 48.9 percent to beat the Lakers by 15 points.
The Lakers have won four of the last six meetings (all at home) by an average margin of 17.5 PPG. Phoenix has won two straight home games over the Lakers but has dropped seven of the last 10 vs. Los Angeles.
The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings but the Lakers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Phoenix.
Trends
Los Angeles is just 1-5 ATS in its last six Pacific division games and 2-8-1 ATS in its last 11 games overall.
Phoenix is 6-1 ATS in its last seven vs. the Western Conference and 4-0 ATS in its last four division games (NBA Pacific). The added rest may not be a good thing for the Suns, who are just 3-11-1 ATS in their last 15 games playing on three or more days rest.