Blake Daniels, March 22, 2023

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The Phoenix Suns continue their road trip with a visit to Crytpo.com Arena and a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

Phoenix s 38-33 SU on the season and they are in 4th place in the Western Conference team standings. The Suns are 15-21 SU in their last 36 road games and they are just 1-4 SU in their previous five assignments. Phoenix is just one game ahead of the 5th place L.A. Clippers and a loss here would put the two teams in a tie for 4th place.

Los Angeles is 35-17 SU on the year and they are 19-17 SU in 36 home games played this year. The Lakers are 11th in the latest Western Conference team standings. However, they are just 1.5 games off the 6th-seeded Warriors and only 1 behind the 7th seed.

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker is averaging 33.1 points per game in his last 10 games played. The Suns will be missing 18.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game from Deandre Ayton.

Phoenix is 9-3 SU in their last 12 games played against the Pacific Division. They are coring 113.4 points per game while outsourcing their opponents by 1.8 points per game.

The Suns are just 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. Phoenix is scoring an average of 116.4 points per game during that period. The Suns are also averaging 44.2 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 7.3 steals, and 5.4 blocks per game over that span. Their opponents have scored just 109.7 points per game during this stretch.

Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis is averaging 28.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game for the Lakers. Austin Reaves is putting up 17.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in his last 10 games played.

Los Angeles is 4-9 SU in their last 13 games played against the Pacific Division. They are also just 15-31 SU in their last 46 games played against opponents with a winning record.

The Lakers are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. They are averaging 113.4 points, 43.9 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 6.2 steals, and 4.2 blocks per game over their last 10 games played. Los Angeles is allowing 109.7 points per game during that span.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers 3/22/23 SU Prediction

The Suns are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played against the Lakers. Phoenix is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games played in Los Angeles.

Phoenix Suns SU trends:

• The Suns are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played.
• The Suns are 15-21 SU in their last 36 games played on the road.
• The Suns are 14-4 SU in their last 18 games played in March.
• The Suns are 9-12 SU in their last 21 road games against the Western Conference.
• The Suns are 24-18 SU in their last 42 games played against the Western Conference.

Los Angeles Lakers SU trends:

• The Lakers are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played.
• The Lakers are 4-3 SU in their last 7 games played at home.
• The Lakers are 20-24 SU in their last 44 games played against the Western Conference.
• The Lakers are 12-10 SU in their last 22 home games against the Western Conference.
• The Lakers are 5-15 SU in their last 20 games played against the Pacific Division.

A total of nine Western Conference teams are separated by just four games. That means anything can still happen during the final weeks of the playoffs. The Lakers hope that after an entire season of struggles, they will finally get their act going when they need it most.

The Lakers entered Tuesday’s games sitting outside the Top 10 in the Western Conference, With 10 games left to play, the Lakers need to step up their game if they want to make the playoffs. On Wednesday, the Lakers look to break into play-in territory once again when they host the Suns.

Wednesday’s game is the third in a five-game homestand which will be followed by a five-game road swing. The Lakers are 1-1 during this stretch, losing at the buzzer to the Mavericks and edging the Orlando Magic the last time out.

Against the Magic, the Lakers needed 35 points from the “Hillbilly Kobe”, Austin Reaves. That was a career-high for the 2nd years guard who has become a vital part of this Lakers organization. During L.A.’s last three games played, Reaves has averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. If the Lakers want to beat the Suns, Reaves must have another good game for the team.

The Suns looked like they were going to challenge the Grizzlies and Kings for the 2nd seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix, however, has lost four out of their last five games played and now they need to hold off the L.A. Clippers who are challenging them for the 4th seed and final home-court advantage in round 1 of the playoffs.

This is the second of a three-game road trip for the Suns. They were beaten by OKC Thunder last Sunday after blowing a 15-point lead. Kevin Durant remains out for Phoenix while Deandre Ayton missed the team’s last game with a hip injury. Without KD and DA, it was Devin Booker who led the charge with 46 points on an 18-28 FG shooting. D-Book is averaging 34.1 points per game on 57.4% FG shooting this month.

Phoenix has won the last six meetings between these two teams, including their first two meeting of the season. LeBron James did not play in both games while AD missed the second game.

Both teams will still be without their best players in this game. The Suns have lost four out of their last five games played and without KD and Ayton, Booker will have to carry a heavy load once again. The Suns lost several rotation players in the KD trade. Meanwhile, the Lakers improved their depth during the trade deadline. They have plenty of firepower on board and should be able to outscore the Suns in this game. Both teams need to win this game but the Lakers need it more.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers

Suns vs Lakers ATS Prediction

The Suns are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games played against the Lakers. Phoenix is 4-0 ATS in their last four games played in Los Angeles.

Phoenix Suns ATS trends:

• The Suns are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games
• The Suns are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games against a team with a winning home record.
• The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games versus a team with a losing straight-up record.
• The Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 2 days’ rest.
• The Suns are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up loss
• The Suns are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Suns are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss
• The Suns are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Suns are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game
• The Suns are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Los Angeles Lakers ATS trends:

• The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games against a team with a losing road record.
• The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
• The Lakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 2 days’ rest.
• The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss.
• The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

The Suns have dropped four out of their last five games and are in a slump right now. They just lost to the OKC Thunder the last time out. Defense has been an issue for the Suns. They have conceded at least 113 points during their last five games played, including 120+ in three of those games.

The Lakers’ offense has gotten better since the All-Star break with their improved three-point shooting. However, Los Angeles has scored an average of 110.33 points per game in their last three games played. However, with the Phoenix defense failing them in the last 5 games played, the Lakers should be able to get their offense going here.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers

Suns vs Lakers Over/Under Prediction

The under is 8-3-1 in the last 12 head-to-head meetings between the Suns and Lakers. The total has gone under in four out of the last five games played between these two teams.

Phoenix Suns over/under trends:

• The over is 6-1-1 in the Suns’ last 8 overall.
• The over is 3-0-1 in the Suns’ last 4 road games.
• The over is 3-0-1 in the Suns’ last 4 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
• The over is 6-1-1 in the Suns’ last 8 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 6-1-1 in the Suns’ last 8 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 6-1-1 in the Suns’ last 8 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 6-1 in the Suns’ last 7 games playing on 2 days’ rest.
• The over is 5-1-1 in the Suns’ last 7 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 3-1-1 in the Suns’ last 5 games following an ATS loss.
• The under is 5-2 in the Suns’ last 7 games against a team with a losing straight-up record.

Los Angeles Lakers over/under trends:

• The under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 overall.
• The under is 9-1 in the Lakers’ last 10 home games.
• The under is 7-1 in the Lakers’ last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• The under is 6-1-1 in the Lakers’ last 8 games following a straight-up win.
• The under is 6-1 in the Lakers’ last 7 Wednesday games.
• The under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 6-2 in the Lakers’ last 8 games following an ATS loss.
• The under is 9-3-1 in the Lakers’ last 13 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 8-3-1 in the Lakers’ last 12 against a team with a winning straight-up record.

The total has hit at least 229 points in four out of the Suns’ last five games played. Phoenix has conceded 116 or more points four times during that stretch. With Ayton still out of action on Wednesday, I don’t expect to see improvement from the Suns’ defense.

Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton, and LeBron James won’t be seeing action here, that’s easily a combined 60 points for both squads. However, the Lakers’ depth will give them enough scorers to fill the slack. Meanwhile, Booker has been red-hot for the Suns so they should be able to keep up with the Lakers.

Prediction: Over 227