Lakers Injury Report: All-Star Suns Starter Ailing Ahead Of Thursday LA Matchup

A key offseason acquisition.

Your Los Angeles Lakers opened their 2023 season against the Denver Nuggets but were unable to come away with the victory in the first game of their season. 

Up next on their schedule are the Phoenix Suns who may be undermanned ahead of their upcoming clash with the purple and gold. 

Bradley Beal has been ruled out of Suns-Warriors on Opening Night due to back issue. Beal had been unlikely throughout the day, but there’s optimism the All-Star is progressing in his return process. https://t.co/LCCxyJxTfp

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 25, 2023

Beal already missed the Suns' season opener against the Warriors with his back injury after an offseason trade brought him to Phoenix. 

New Suns' owner Mat Ishbia made a splash last trade deadline after he moved Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and several picks for Nets superstar Kevin Durant. 

Though Durant and Booker played amazingly together, the heavy minute toll through the postseason reared its ugly head in a 30-point loss to Denver in the clinching game of their second-round exit. 

Ishbia and GM James Jones moved quickly to correct those issues as they traded veteran Chris Paul for Beal as their third option. 

The Suns also involved themselves in the Damian Lillard blockbuster by trading out Deandre Ayton for Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen to shore up their rotation. 

With plenty of veteran minimum contracts to fill out their bench, Phoenix opened the season as the betting favorite to win the West. 

LA isn't far behind but their initial test to beat the defending champions didn't fare so well. 

Lebron James and company have plenty of work to do but another early season test lies ahead with or without Beal for the new-look Suns. 

Anthony Davis' absent second half during their season opener isn't the start any Lakers fan wanted for him as Nikola Jokic dominated their individual much like he did last postseason. 

The wild wild West won't be an easy task to conquer and a possible playoff preview comes next for the purple and gold. 

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