Lakers Face Suns Without Austin Reaves, Who Has Left Heel Bruise
The Los Angeles Lakers, 11-2 and on a seven-game winning streak, visited the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, November 15, 2026, without Austin Reaves. Here are the injuries, key numbers and matchups, plus the tip-off time and TV details.
The Los Angeles Lakers visited the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Centre on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in a Lakers vs Suns game that pitted a seven-game winning streak against a rising opponent, with Austin Reaves ruled out by a left heel bruise.
Los Angeles (11-2) faced Phoenix (5-6) on the road in Game 14 of the 82-game season. It was the teams' first meeting this season.
Tip-off was set for 4 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Pacific). The game aired locally on Arizona's Family 3TV and the Suns Live service in the Phoenix market, and on Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum SportsNet+ in Los Angeles.
Lakers short in the backcourt
Reaves averages 24.7 points per game. His absence leaves Luka Dončić without a second main creator.
Dončić was not listed on the injury report after hurting his right ankle against Milwaukee. He enters averaging an NBA-leading 38.6 points, with 7.6 assists and 7.5 rebounds, and is shooting 40.8% from 3-point range.
Depth is thin. Collin Sexton is questionable with a right orbital laceration, Bronny James Jr. is questionable with an illness, and Cameron Carr is out with an illness. Adou Thiero is questionable with a left ankle sprain.
Quentin Grimes is available despite a right finger splint. Sandro Mamukelashvili has scored 23 points in each of the past two games.
Suns on the rise
Phoenix has won four of its past five. It scored a season-high 133 points and made 22 3-pointers against the Clippers, then forced 27 turnovers in a 101-96 win over Charlotte on Thursday.
Devin Booker has driven the improvement. Over those five games he has averaged 26.6 points, 5.4 assists and two steals.
The Suns force 16.5 turnovers per game, fourth in the NBA, and commit just 13.2 themselves, seventh fewest. The Lakers average 16.9 turnovers, which makes ball security a priority without Reaves.
Where the numbers point
The Lakers lead the league in offensive rating at 122.7 and rank third in 3-point shooting at 38.3%. Phoenix ranks 26th in defensive rating, allowing 117.6 points per 100 possessions. It is 25th in opponent 3-point percentage at 37.4%.
Rebounding is the Suns' clearest weakness. They rank last in the NBA at 38.9 rebounds per game and 26th in opponent rebounds at 46.9. Charlotte outrebounded them 52-31 on Thursday.
The Lakers have their own problem on the glass, ranking 27th in rebounds per game. Walker Kessler averages 14.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Kessler, Jake LaRavia and the rest of the frontcourt need to create extra shots while limiting Phoenix's second chances.
To slow Booker, the Lakers can turn to Matisse Thybulle and Grimes. Keeping him away from comfortable spots while protecting the ball would help Los Angeles control the game and close its trip with a win.
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