Lakers at Suns, Three Things to Know:

Lakers at Suns, Three Things to Know:https://t.co/sAbYihaTS0

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 28, 2024

The Lakers (3-0) are in Phoenix to face the Suns (2-1) for their first road game of the regular season. Below are three things to know in advance of the matchup:

1. RUN IT BACK

For whatever reason, the NBA Schedule Gods saw to it that the Lakers and Suns would get sick of one another early this season, as this Oct. 28 matchup will already be the fourth time the two Pacific Division squads will see one another (including two preseason contests), with a fifth game coming right up on Nov. 26. The most recent meeting was just three days ago, LA emerging from Crypto.com Arena with a 123-116 victory despite falling behind 38-23 in the first quarter.

2. EARLY STANDOUT GROUP

To start the 2nd and 4th quarters of the three games thus far, JJ Redick has played a group of D’Angelo Russell, Dalton Knecht, LeBron, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes, and they’ve been killing it. In 19 minutes, they have a net rating of 73.9, with an offensive rating of 163.4 and defensive rating of 89.5. It’s a small sample size, sure, but they’re running opposing groups off the floor.

3. HEALTH AND AVAILABILITY

For the fourth straight game, the Lakers expect to have their starting lineup and primary bench rotation all available for coach JJ Redick. On top of the nine players that have played rotation minutes thus far, and Bronny James (three minutes in the opener), Cam Reddish is also available after missing the previous two games for personal reasons.