Suns’ Ryan Dunn continues to improve at bringing up the ball
The Phoenix Suns’ sophomore forward discusses his leap taken in bringing up the ball and helping to initiate the offense during the 2025-26 season.
LOS ANGELES – The Phoenix Suns begin the first of four road games on Monday, Dec. 1, in a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Peacock is streaming the 8 p.m. MST game.
The Suns (12-9) have dropped their last two games, falling 123-119 at defending NBA champion Oklahoma City in NBA Cup group play on Nov. 28 and losing, 130-112, to the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 29 at home in the second of a back-to-back.
Mark Williams is set to return after missing the Nuggets game with a listed sore right calf. He’s not listed on the team’s injury report for the Lakers’ game. The 7-footer has yet to play the second of a back-to-back this season.
Ryan Dunn is listed as probable with a right wrist sprain. He’s missed Phoenix’s last five games. Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (right hip strain) remain out.
LeBron James is back for the Lakers. He had been ruled out for their Nov. 30 game with left foot injury management in the first of a back-to-back. He isn’t on the team’s injury report for the game.
Suns forward Ryan Dunn putting in work after morning shootaround at UCLA heading into tonight’s game against Los Angeles Lakers.
Missed Phoenix’s last 5 games with a right wrist sprain. Listed probable for tonight.
Went up against rookie Rasheer Fleming here. #Suns #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/zBoAcQgqux
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 1, 2025
The Lakers (15-4) won their seventh straight game Nov. 30, beating the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, 133-121, at Crypto.com Arena.
This will be the second of a back-to-back for the Lakers as they face Phoenix for the first of four times this season. The Lakers and Suns played twice in the preseason, with Phoenix winning both games.
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Grayson Allen late scratch
Grayson Allen is a late scratch with an illness for the Phoenix Suns heading into Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Allen was at the team’s morning shootaround at UCLA.
“Soon as we walked in the arena, we got a call,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said pregame. “Unlucky.”
“Soon as we walked in the arena, we got a call. Unlucky.”
Suns coach Jordan Ott on Grayson Allen, who will miss tonight’s game vs. Lakers as a late scratch with an illness.
Collin Gillespie will get the start for Allen. #Suns #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/sDcTWlqIUp
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 2, 2025
Allen just returned from a right quad contusion that sidelined him for seven games. He made his return in Saturday’s loss to Denver in the second of a back-to-back.
The Suns will start Collin Gillespie in Allen’s place, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale and Mark Williams, who is back after sitting out the second of a back-to-back against Denver with a sore right calf.
The Lakers are starting Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and former Suns big Deandre Ayton.
Lakers’ coach: Suns ‘a huge challenge’
Lakers’ coach JJ Redick is impressed with the Suns so far this season.
“We’ve got an incredible challenge (Monday) with Phoenix,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said during his postgame news conference after the Pelicans game. “Those guys are playing great basketball. They’re coming off a couple of losses to two of the best teams in the NBA (Oklahoma City and Denver). They play hard. They have an identity. That’s going to be a huge challenge.”
This is a return game for Suns coach Jordan Ott, who was an assistant for the Lakers for two seasons (2022-24). Ott is in his first season as an NBA head coach.
“That’s a really good team that plays hard. Jordan Ott has got them playing really hard, playing the right way.”
Austin Reaves on new Suns coach, who was an assistant with the Lakers (2022-24).
“You love to see that. You love to see a guy like that winning. For us, it’s just… pic.twitter.com/deQzCvpcbd
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 1, 2025
“That’s a really good team that plays hard,” said Lakers guard Austin Reaves during a postgame interview on Spectrum SportsNet. “Jordan Ott has got them playing really hard, playing the right way. … “You love to see that. You love to see a guy like that winning.”
Redick said before the Pelicans game that the plan is for James to play both games of a back-to-back as the season progresses.
Making his season debut Nov. 18 against Utah, James has played four games in his NBA-record 23rd season after returning from sciatica, a nerve issue that hindered his lower back and down the right side of his body.
“We’re going to build him up to hopefully play in back-to-backs,” Redick said during a pregame news conference about James. “That’s the goal, but every back-to-back is a case-by-case. That’s the reality of the NBA right now. We want him to be able to play back-to-backs. So does he. We’re going to work towards that.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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