The first-round matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns includes some of the NBA’s most talented players, and watching them battle it out to move onto the next round will be captivating.
The Lakers are entering the series with a healthy roster, something that hasn’t been the case for a good chunk of the season. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder have all played together for three consecutive games, joining Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the starting lineup.
Chris Paul and Devin Booker headline Phoenix’s roster, with Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton also rising to the occasion this season to lead the Suns to a 51-21 record, good for second place in the Western Conference.
Phoenix took the regular-season series, 2-1, but Los Angeles rolled out incomplete lineups for all three games, as James and Davis made only one appearance, each occurring in different games.
The Suns usually had their best players available, but now that L.A. is in better shape, both teams will start the series at an equal state.
Here are three key matchups that could dictate who advances to the next round: