Kobe Bryant Active Against Suns
Kobe Bryant will be active for the first time in four games on Sunday night when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Phoenix Suns who are vying for their sixth consecutive victory.
Bryant has missed the past three games (rest) for the Lakers, but will suit up against the Suns. The Lakers (9-21) went 1-2 in his absence with the one win being against the Golden State Warriors who are currently the best team in the NBA.
Phoenix (17-14) enters Los Angeles on a hot-streak with victories against the Hornets, Knicks, Wizards, Mavericks and Kings. They are on a stretch that includes 11 road games in an 14-game span. They will finish their four-game road trip against the Pelicans and the Thunder before the calendar year ends.
Eric Bledsoe has been a key catalyst to the Suns recent success in which he has put up 19 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over the past week. Bledsoe also missed his backcourt partner Goran Dragic who missed two games (back) before returning for the past five games which have all resulted in victories.
Alex Len has begun to receive the majority of minutes at the center position as of late and the Suns have been thriving with his strong post play. When Len has been in the starting lineup with Bledsoe, Dragic, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris the Suns have gone 5-0.
Nov 24, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) reacts after dunking the basketball as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (left) and center Jonas Valanciunas (17) look on the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Len has registered a block in nine consecutive games, including five blocks against the Kings on Friday in which he also added 10 points and 11 rebounds. It was his third double-double of the season and a career-high in blocks.
Phoenix has won six of seven in this series with the last Lakers victory over Phoenix being in mid-February of 2013.
The Suns and Lakers will tip-off at 7:30 PM MST from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.