With the full NBA season ramping up, the Los Angeles Lakers are going all-in to prepare for the action. On Thursday, against the Suns, LeBron James himself was in full uniform for a highly anticipated preseason clash with Kevin Durant. The two put on a show in LA this week, combining for 40 points on the night. Unfortunately for the Lakers, it wasn’t enough for the win and they’ll be heading into opening night with a 2-4 preseason record.
Final: Suns 123, Lakers 100
Phoenix outscored LA 69-42 in the second half. LeBron had 19 points in 22 minutes. Anthony Davis had 15 points and 6 blocks. Austin Reaves had 14 points. The Lakers finish the preseason 2-4.
Up next: regular-season opener in Denver on Tuesday.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 20, 2023
The Suns won by 23 points on the night thanks to great shooting by Durant, who played 17 minutes in the game. It was likely intended as a warm-up game for the Suns, who play the Warriors on opening night next week. Meanwhile, LeBron looked pretty good in the contest with 19 points overall, and it was his first time battling Durant since 2018.
Lebron was 33 yrs old last time he was on the same court with Kevin Durant, he’s now 38 yrs old
Times were simpler back then pic.twitter.com/SXmEl3wQ7S
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) October 19, 2023
As both stars enter the prime of their careers, fans couldn’t help but reminisce on their journey, and look ahead to this final chapter of their careers.
LeBron James & Kevin Durant matching up for the first time since 2018 didn’t disappoint! 💪
The two only played one half:
LeBron – 19 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 6/12 FGM, 3/5 3PM, 22 MIN
Durant – 21 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 8/14 FGM, 2/3 3PM, 17 MIN
Two all-time greats going head to head!… pic.twitter.com/36D6z2G6Ae
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) October 20, 2023
The 2023-24 campaign is expected to be highly competitive, especially in the West. With teams like the Clippers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Warriors, and Nuggets all residing in the West, it leaves little margin for error. This season, the race to the Finals will be as intense as we’ve ever seen, and the Lakers and Suns are both expected to be among the last ones standing in the final stage of play. The question is, which team has the edge over the other?
Durant Has Big Ambitions For The New-Look Suns
The Suns failed to meet their own expectations last season when they flamed out in the second round against the Denver Nuggets. At the time, it was clear that while Phoenix had plenty of top-heavy talent, they lacked the depth and team chemistry that the Nuggets had built. So, besides winning at home in Games 3 and 4 of the series, Phoenix posed little threat to the Nuggets. This season, the hope for the Suns is that things are different now.
With Durant and Booker joined by Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, and Grayson Allen, the Suns certainly have enough on paper to overcome their demons and make amends for falling short in their Finals appearance back in 2021. Obviously, Durant will be the leading influence in that pursuit as, even now, he remains among the five best players in the game with averages of 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game last season.
The Lakers Believe They Can Win The Title
Even going on 39 years old, LeBron James is a cut above the rest of the field. Despite being a 20-year NBA veteran, he continues to set the example for his teammates both on and off the court. Last season, for the Lakers, he averaged 28.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and he’s expected to put on a similar showing for the 2023-24 campaign.
If the supporting cast can step up around James, and Anthony Davis stays healthy, then the Lakers could find themselves hovering with some of the best teams in the West. But even if it takes a while to gel, it’s impossible to count the Lakers out, given their miracle comeback a year ago. Unfortunately, the Lakers will have to get through Phoenix and several other top-flight contenders, in order to call it a success.
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