Sun Mar 16 18:30:00 UTC 2025: **Lakers Host Suns in Crucial Western Conference Matchup**

LOS ANGELES (CBS Sports) – The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns clash this Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in a pivotal Western Conference showdown. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Lakers (40-25), currently fifth in the conference, are 2.5-point favorites against the 11th-place Suns (31-36), who trail the Dallas Mavericks by 1.5 games. The over/under for total points is set at 228.

This will be the final regular season meeting between the two teams, with the Suns having won two of their previous three matchups. However, the Lakers covered the spread in two of those games.

LeBron James remains sidelined for the Lakers due to a leg injury, while Grayson Allen will miss the game for Phoenix due to a foot injury. Despite a four-game losing streak and the absence of James, the Lakers showed competitiveness in their recent loss to the Denver Nuggets, with Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht leading the scoring. The return of key players could bolster their chances against Phoenix.

The Suns, meanwhile, are coming off a decisive victory against the Sacramento Kings, fueled by strong performances from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Their recent success includes covering the spread in five of their last six games and all seven of their last games against Pacific Division opponents.

The SportsLine Projection Model, which boasts significant past success in predicting NBA games, has simulated this matchup 10,000 times and predicts an under on the point total, projecting a combined score of 225 points. The model also favors one team to cover the spread, but its specific prediction requires a visit to their website. The model’s detailed analysis and picks are available on SportsLine.

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