The Los Angeles Lakers came into Monday night riding a seven-game win streak and looking to close out a four-game homestand with a statement. They got LeBron James back in the lineup after he sat out Sunday’s win over the Pelicans, and the energy in Crypto.com Arena suggested this could be another step forward in their early-season surge. But instead of building momentum, the Lakers ran straight into a buzzsaw-and the Phoenix Suns didn’t even need Devin Booker to do the damage.
For a quarter and a half, the game was tight. Then came the unraveling.
Phoenix’s 19-4 Run Changes Everything
Late in the second quarter, the Suns flipped the switch. A 19-4 run-fueled by relentless defensive pressure and a flurry of Lakers turnovers-blew the game wide open.
L.A. went into halftime down 66-52, and Booker hadn’t even been on the floor since the first quarter due to a groin injury. That’s the kind of gut punch that can take the air out of a team, and the Lakers never recovered.
The second half wasn’t much of a contest. Phoenix led by as many as 25 points and cruised to a 125-108 win, ending the Lakers’ win streak and handing them a reminder of how quickly things can spiral when the fundamentals break down.
Turnovers and Transition Defense: A Disaster for L.A.
This one was lost in the margins-and those margins weren’t small. The Lakers coughed up the ball 22 times, and the Suns turned those mistakes into 32 points.
That’s not just sloppy; that’s self-sabotage. Add in a 28-2 disadvantage in fast-break points and a 35-to-18 assist gap, and it’s clear this wasn’t just a bad night-it was a breakdown in execution across the board.
Suns Role Players Step Up Big
With Booker sidelined, Phoenix needed someone to step up. Enter Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie.
Brooks, a familiar antagonist for Lakers fans, delivered a dagger of a performance. He dropped 33 points on 15-of-26 shooting, reminding everyone that he still knows how to rise to the occasion-especially in L.A.
Gillespie, meanwhile, had the best game of his young career, pouring in 28 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep. The Lakers had no answers for either one.
Lakers Individual Grades and Takeaways
Let’s break down how the key Lakers performed in a game that exposed some real concerns.
LeBron James: D
LeBron looked out of rhythm and, frankly, a bit disengaged for long stretches. He scored just four points in the first half and finished with 10 on 3-of-10 shooting. No rebounds in 31 minutes is a red flag, and while he kept his double-digit scoring streak alive with a late three, this wasn’t the kind of impact performance the Lakers needed from their leader-especially in a game where everything else was falling apart.
Luka Dončić: B-/B
Dončić was electric early, putting up 20 points in the first quarter on 8-of-11 shooting. But the second quarter told a different story.
Four turnovers in a two-minute span helped fuel Phoenix’s game-changing run. He finished with 38 points, 11 boards and five assists, but the nine turnovers and a minus-25 plus-minus show just how much his mistakes hurt.
The Lakers need to find more off-ball movement to help Dončić when the defense keys in on him. Right now, there’s too much standing around when he’s initiating.
Austin Reaves: B-
Reaves gave the Lakers 16 points on an efficient 6-of-12 shooting and hit three of his seven attempts from deep. He added four rebounds and three assists, but the five turnovers were costly. He’s been a steady presence this season, but even he wasn’t immune to the team-wide sloppiness.
Rui Hachimura: F
Hachimura has been a reliable scorer off the bench this season, but this was a complete no-show. He played 23 minutes, took just one shot (and missed it), and recorded a single rebound. The Lakers needed his offensive spark, and it just wasn’t there.
Gabe Vincent: D
Vincent struggled to find any rhythm, finishing with just three points on 1-of-6 shooting. He added two rebounds in 21 minutes, but didn’t provide the kind of backcourt support the Lakers were hoping for.
Jake LaRavia: D
LaRavia started the season strong but has cooled off significantly. He played 16 minutes, took three shots (made one), and ended with two points, two rebounds and one assist. The Lakers need more from him, especially when the offense is sputtering.
Dalton Knecht: A
A bright spot in an otherwise dark night. Knecht came in and gave the Lakers a spark with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep.
He also grabbed four boards and dished out an assist in just 16 minutes. He earned himself a longer look in the rotation.
Maxi Kleber: B
Kleber played limited minutes (10), but made the most of them with five points, three rebounds, and two assists. Solid, if unspectacular, contribution.
Adou Thiero, Nick Smith Jr., Bronny James: Incomplete
These three checked in during garbage time. Thiero grabbed a rebound, Smith hit one of his two shots, and Bronny James had an assist. Not enough action to evaluate, but valuable experience nonetheless.
Deandre Ayton: B-
Ayton was efficient (6-of-8 for 12 points) and nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds. But the Suns didn’t rely heavily on him offensively, and he didn’t get to the line at all. He added a steal and an assist, but this was more of a complementary role than a dominant one.
Mark Williams: Impactful Off the Bench
The big man the Lakers once tried to trade for showed why they were interested. Williams had 13 points, six rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist in just 25 minutes. He also threw down multiple emphatic dunks, bringing energy and physicality the Lakers could’ve used on their side.
What’s Next for L.A.?
Despite the loss, the Lakers still sit at 15-5 and hold second place in the Western Conference. But this game served as a reminder that even top-tier teams can get exposed if they lose focus and fail to execute the basics.
Now they hit the road for a tough three-game trip, starting Thursday against a surprisingly strong Toronto Raptors squad. With December’s schedule ramping up in difficulty, the Lakers will need to tighten up-especially in transition defense and ball security-if they want to stay near the top of the West.
This one stings, but it’s also a chance to recalibrate. The talent is there. The challenge is consistency.