Preview: Lakers at Phoenix Suns

The Lakers (12-29) get one last crack at the Suns (24-18) on Monday night in Phoenix.

The Suns have already beaten the Lakers 119-99, 112-106 and 116-107, with Phoenix scoring an average of 115.7 points a night.

Kobe Bryant (rest) and Ronnie Price (elbow) sat out the Lakers’ Friday night loss to the Utah Jazz, but they may be available on Monday.

The Lakers are also missing Julius Randle (knee) and Steve Nash (back).

Key matchup

The Suns boast three high-scoring point guards in Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas.

The Lakers haven’t been able to handle the combination in any of the three pervious matchups. Bledsoe scored 22 points with eight rebounds and eight assists in late December, while Dragic had 24 points and Thomas 15.

Jeremy Lin had one of his best games in that contest with 21 points, hitting four of six three-pointers. If Price is a no-go, the Lakers will need even more from Lin.

Ultimately, defense is the problem for the Lakers, both against the Suns and in general.

Rookie Jordan Clarkson could get some time at the point in the potential absence of Price.

X-factor

Phoenix’s Morris twins are identical, though Markieff Morris is slightly taller than Marcus Morris. The Lakers have trouble with both.

Nick Young emerged from a lengthy slump with a strong game against the Jazz. The last time the Lakers and Suns met, Young added 21 points on four-of-six shooting from three-point range.

Outlook

The Suns are just a bad matchup for the Lakers. Expect a Phoenix sweep.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus