Suns Rest Key Players Against Lakers in Preseason Finale

Phoenix, Arizona — The Phoenix Suns will take on the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason finale on Tuesday, but they face a challenging situation as they are just one day removed from a 13-hour flight back from China, after playing the Brooklyn Nets.

Coach Monty Williams announced that star guard Devin Booker will be resting for the game alongside other key players, which has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts. This marks a planned decision to manage player workloads ahead of the regular season.

ESPN reported Monday that Luka Doncic will make his preseason debut for the Lakers against the Suns, which adds intrigue for those who will be participating. Doncic has been in a form of limbo, sitting out the Lakers’ first three preseason games after his extensive summer commitments with Slovenia.

“We’re trying to keep our guys healthy,” Williams explained. “With the travel and the tight schedule, we have to be smart about who we put on the court.”

As of now, Jalen Green and Mark Williams have also been nursing injuries and are not expected to play, leaving the Suns in a position where they will rely on their depth to compete against the Lakers.

Suns coach Jordan Ott discussed the unique challenges this preseason has posed. “Our trip to China has kind of thrown a curveball in our prep,” he said. “We usually have more games to get ready, but now we are focused on optimizing the minutes we do play.”

For the Suns, the strategy seems clear: use this game to test their depth and give experience to younger players who may step up during the regular season. The Suns have already established a consistent starting lineup, which has seen Devin Booker alongside Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks among others during their initial matchups.

As the final preseason game approaches, all eyes will be on how the Suns perform without their stars and how the Lakers, featuring a returning Doncic, capitalize on the opportunity. The outcome will serve as an early indicator of both teams’ potential heading into the new season.