The set-up: Two struggling teams trying to find themselves meet Friday night at Staples Center, as the visiting Phoenix Suns (6-16) take on the 10-14 LA Lakers. The Suns have dropped three in a row and five of six, after a 109-94 setback at home against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Phoenix is off to one of its worst starts in the past 20 years. The Lakers are on a four-game slide, after getting humiliating 134-95 at Houston on Wednesday, the third time they've lost by 30 or more points.

Phoenix: Head coach Earl Watson is remaining positive, despite the team's early struggles. "We have a young group," Watson said after the loss. "We have to set the tone and identity on how we want to play. From now on, moving forward, defensively aggressive is how we have to play." phoenix owns a quality backcourt in Booker (19.0) and PG Bledsoe (18.8-5.8-5.0), backed up by Knight (13.0). SF T.J. Warren (17.7 & 4.3) is working on a breakout season. The Suns are a capable offensive team (105.7 PPG ranks 9th) but they allow 113.0 PPG, which ranks 29th of 30 teams.

LA Lakers: Injuries continue to ravage the Lakers, as they remain without starting PG D'Angelo Russell (sore left knee), starting shooting guard Nick Young (calf strain, right leg), backup guard Jose Calderon (right hamstring strain) and reserve center/forward Tarik Black (right ankle sprain). None of the four is expected to be available against the Suns. The Lakers can score (when healthy) but like the Suns, are a terrible defensive team. LA allows 110.3 PPG (27th) and is dead-last in opposing teams' shooting (48.0 percent).

The pick: These teams met back on Nov. 6 with the Lakers beating the Suns, 119-108. However, LA is minus too much ‘firepower' these days for these two teams to match the kind of scoring we saw in early November. The Uner is an 8* play.