Los Angeles @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2017 ) L.A. Lakers 132, Phoenix 130

The first meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns produced a high-scoring showcase for many of the teams' young stars. Lonzo Ball, Devin Booker and others will be on high alert when the teams tangle again in Phoenix on Monday night.

Ball had a personal-best 29 points and fell an assist shy of a triple-double in a 132-130 win in the desert on Oct. 20, helping the Lakers overcome 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists from Booker and another 24 from Suns forward T.J. Warren. Ball has had some wild ups and downs since then but he became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double (19 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds) in Saturday's 98-90 loss at Milwaukee. "I really don't care," Ball told reporters of surpassing LeBron James' old record by four days. "I just wanted to win tonight. I thought we put ourselves in a good position to get it, but it didn't happen." While Los Angeles has dropped three in a row, Phoenix was able to snap a five-game skid with a 118-110 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE LAKERS (5-8): Los Angeles has seen its offensive output fall in each of the last four games and is averaging 93.7 points during its three-game slide. Brandon Ingram has been one culprit, averaging nine points - more than five below his season mark - on 5-of-18 shooting in the last two games, while top reserve Jordan Clarkson was held to a season low-tying eight points in Milwaukee. Ball is averaging 7.4 assists and 6.8 rebounds and he shot over 50 percent from the field for the first time in his young career on Saturday.

ABOUT THE SUNS (5-9): Booker and Warren seem primed and ready for the rematch with the Lakers after both players scored 35 points while combining to shoot 28-for-44 on Saturday. "When they're both rolling, it's going to be a good night for us," Phoenix interim coach Jay Triano told the media after improving to 5-6 since taking over on the sidelines. Tyson Chandler returned from a two-game absence to record six rebounds and two blocked shots, and the Suns hope to get fellow center Greg Monroe (calf) - acquired from Milwaukee in the Eric Bledsoe trade - into the rotation soon.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams combined to make 26-of-55 3-pointers in last month's matchup.

2. Warren is averaging 22.8 points while shooting 53.4 percent through the first four games of Phoenix's six-game homestand.

3. Lakers PF Kyle Kuzma scored in double figures in 11 of his last 12 contests.

PREDICTION: Suns 123, Lakers 120