The Lakers wrapped up their four-game road trip with a tough test in the desert, squaring off against the Phoenix Suns in what’s quickly becoming a chippy, closely contested series. After narrowly escaping with a 116-114 win on Sunday - a game that left both benches buzzing with controversy - LA came into Tuesday night looking to take a 2-1 edge in the season series. But they did so shorthanded, missing Luka Dončić (leg), Rui Hachimura (groin), and Gabe Vincent (back), all of whom were sidelined with injuries.
From the opening tip, both teams came out swinging. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with neither side gaining much separation.
LeBron James, playing in his usual playmaker role early, finished the first frame with four points on 1-of-4 shooting, but chipped in three assists to keep the offense moving. On the other side, Deandre Ayton got going early for Phoenix, putting up six points and grabbing four boards in the opening quarter.
Devin Booker, as expected, was the engine for the Suns. He tallied seven points, two assists, and two steals in the first, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. Booker’s ability to create offense while disrupting LA’s rhythm defensively gave Phoenix an early edge in energy.
The second quarter saw LeBron flip the switch. The 20-year vet poured in 14 points in the period, reminding everyone that even in his third decade in the league, he can still take over stretches when needed.
But the Lakers couldn’t keep a grip on the ball - they turned it over six times in the quarter alone, with Austin Reaves responsible for half of those miscues. Those mistakes proved costly, as Phoenix capitalized with efficient ball movement and timely scoring from a variety of contributors.
By halftime, the Suns had built a 67-57 lead, thanks in large part to their balanced offensive approach. While Booker remained the focal point, Phoenix got meaningful minutes from up and down the roster - and that depth started to show as LA’s rotation thinned without key players.
Here’s a look at how the individual performances stacked up:
Lakers Box Score Highlights
- LeBron James: 18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists - a strong second quarter helped him lead LA’s scoring.
- Austin Reaves: 12 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists - solid scoring but three turnovers hurt.
- Jake LaRavia: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist - provided some hustle off the bench.
- Deandre Ayton (in a Lakers jersey): 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist - controlled the glass early.
- Marcus Smart: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists - his usual gritty presence on both ends.
- Nick Smith Jr.: 2 points, 1 rebound - limited impact in his minutes.
- Jarred Vanderbilt: 2 points, 4 rebounds - active on the boards, but quiet offensively.
- Dalton Knecht & Jaxson Hayes: Combined for just 2 points - minimal production.
Suns Box Score Highlights
- Devin Booker: 13 points, 5 assists, 2 steals - steady leadership and two-way play.
- Dillon Brooks: 13 points - brought his usual edge and scoring punch.
- Mark Williams: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists - strong interior presence.
- Royce O’Neale: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists - contributed across the board.
- Collin Gillespie: 5 points, 4 assists - solid floor general minutes.
- Jamaree Bouyea: 8 points - gave Phoenix a spark off the bench.
- Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, Jordan Goodwin: Combined for 9 points - helped maintain tempo and defensive pressure.
Phoenix’s ability to spread the scoring load and force turnovers gave them the upper hand through two quarters. For the Lakers, the second half would be all about tightening up the ball security and finding consistent offense outside of LeBron. With Dončić, Hachimura, and Vincent out, LA needed someone else to step up - and fast.
As this series continues to heat up, it’s clear both teams are treating these matchups like playoff previews. The margin for error is razor-thin, and the intensity is only going up from here.