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As Los Angeles coach JJ Redick has noted, it wasn’t too long ago that the Lakers were riding an eight-game win streak and considered serious title contenders.

After completing a disappointing 0-4 road trip, the Lakers (40-25) look to regroup when they return home on Sunday to face the Phoenix Suns (31-36).

Los Angeles fell to the fifth seed in the Western Conference after losing 131-126 to the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Austin Reaves scored 37 points and Dalton Knecht had 32 for the short-handed Lakers, who played without three starters.

In addition to LeBron James (left groin strain), Luka Doncic (left calf injury management and right ankle sprain), and Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), Los Angeles was minus Jaxson Hayes (right knee contusion), Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle injury management) and Gabe Vincent (left knee injury management).

While James is expected to be sidelined for another week, the Lakers are hoping to have Doncic and others back in the lineup as soon as Sunday.

Despite coming up short against Denver, Reaves was encouraged by the team’s effort. Los Angeles led 126-123 with 52 seconds remaining before the Nuggets escaped with the home win.

“We know when we’re fully healthy and got everybody on the team that we have a really good chance to beat anybody,” Reaves said.

“I just see this group, coming together, locking in on one common goal and that’s to win. And tonight, I think is the biggest testament to that. Very short-handed and went and played a really good basketball team with probably the best player in the world. And went toe to toe and had an opportunity to win it and just didn’t execute the last 50 seconds.”

Los Angeles is seeking a season split against Phoenix after losing two of the first three meetings.

The Suns are in 11th in the Western Conference, but their chances for a spot in the Play-In Tournament improved with a 122-106 home win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant scored 22 points apiece to lead Phoenix, while Tyus Jones added 20. Phoenix made 24 3-pointers and scored a season-high 38 points off 19 Sacramento turnovers.

“Quite a few points off turnovers for us, which it’s great to see that in the kind of reverse of what’s happened to us too many nights,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think it helps. It helps everybody get a good feel, get some easy baskets off of turnovers and then just play fast and play random, you know. So, it was helpful.”

The Suns played without Grayson Allen (left foot strain) and Nick Richards (right ankle sprain), and had to rely on reserves Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro after Mason Plumlee was ejected for the second straight game.

Plumlee was ejected on Friday following a flagrant foul against Kings center Domantas Sabonis in the third quarter.

“We always got Mason’s back,” Durant said. “We know he has no ill intentions out there on the floor. He’s just trying to be physical and set a tone for us. I’ll be watching him next game to see what happens next game. Three in a row would be insane.”

Plumlee’s early exit created an opportunity for Ighodaro, who finished with 11 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in 32 minutes.

–Field Level Media