Coming out of the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking to gain some traction, especially with their big three finally back on the court. Yet, after dropping consecutive games to the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, they faced a crucial matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, desperately needing a win to halt their skid.
The Suns, missing their top scorers Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, seemed like a ripe opportunity for the Lakers. However, the game turned out to be a roller-coaster ride.
The Lakers burst out of the gate in the third quarter with an 11-point run, building a 13-point lead. But the Suns fought back, taking a 101-89 lead with just over six minutes left in the game.
The Lakers clawed back to tie it at 110 with 22.7 seconds remaining, only for the Suns' Royce O'Neale to nail a clutch 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds on the clock. Austin Reaves had a chance to send it to overtime, but his attempt missed, sealing a 113-110 loss for the Lakers.
The story of the night was the battle beyond the arc. Phoenix hit 22 of their 50 attempts from downtown, catching the Lakers off guard defensively. Despite shooting 50.7% from the field and making 12 more free throws, the Lakers couldn't overcome the 3-point disparity.
Sitting in sixth place with a 34-24 record, the Lakers are now just one game ahead of the seventh-place Suns, having lost five of their last seven games.
Player Performances:
Deandre Ayton: D-minus
Ayton, after a strong showing against Orlando, was a ghost in this one.
In just 23 minutes, he managed only two points and four rebounds. Coach JJ Redick opted for Jaxson Hayes over Ayton in the critical final minutes.
Marcus Smart: B-plus
Smart contributed offensively, going 4-of-8 from the field and hitting 2-of-5 from three. He added 13 points, one rebound, three assists, and a steal in 31 minutes.
Austin Reaves: D-plus/C-minus
Reaves had a slow start but picked up some steam later, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting. He added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals but also committed four turnovers.
LeBron James: C-minus
LeBron was quiet, scoring just five points in the first half and adding eight more in the third quarter. He struggled from deep, missing all three attempts, and wrapped up with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 35 minutes.
Luka Doncic: A
Doncic bounced back from a tough game, lighting it up with 41 points on 12-of-21 shooting, including 6-of-11 from three. He also added eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
Jaxson Hayes: B-plus/A-minus
Hayes made the most of his 21 minutes, pulling down eight rebounds and scoring six points, along with an assist and a block.
Luke Kennard: B-plus
Kennard found ways to score despite limited 3-point opportunities, shooting 4-of-6 for eight points. Surprisingly, he wasn't on the floor for the Lakers' final possession when they needed a three.
Jake LaRavia: B
LaRavia played solid defense and was efficient offensively, scoring 11 points on 50% shooting. He added five rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block in 28 minutes.
Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber: Incomplete
Vanderbilt played just six minutes with one rebound, while Kleber only appeared for the final possession without contributing to the stat sheet.