Starters Announced For Shorthanded LA, Phoenix Tonight

Phoenix will be without either member of its All-Star backcourt tandem, as new starting shooting guard Bradley Beal remains bothered by a back injury and All-NBA guard Devin Booker, newly recast as a point, will sit out with a foot injury.

On the Lakers' side, power forward Jarred Vanderbilt remains sidelined with a sore left heel. To be fair, I'm not sure Vanderbilt be a starter for LA anymore even if healthy, following a strong two-way opening night performance against Denver from combo forward Taurean Prince. Rookie shooting guard Jalen Hood-Schifino will sit with a right patella contusion.

Now, some light has been shed regarding the identities of both teams' starting fives.

LA will trot out its Game 1 starting lineup of D'Angelo Russell at the point, Austin Reaves at the two, Prince at the three, LeBron James at power forward, and Anthony Davis manning the middle.

As they did during their preseason Palm Springs bout against Los Angeles, the Suns will elevate Eric Gordon, who like Beal is more of a shooting guard in a point guard's body, to the team's starting point guard role and Grayson Allen (who started on Tuesday with Beal absent) at the two. Josh Okogie, who had an efficient 17-point outing against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, will remain the team's starting small forward, while perennial All-Star power forward Kevin Durant and center Jusuf Nurkic will round out the frontcourt.

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or LA Sports Report yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!