Lakers Struggle in Phoenix as Rui Hachimura Endures a Quiet Night Amid Offensive Stagnation
The Los Angeles Lakers ran into a buzzsaw Monday night in the form of the Phoenix Suns, and no one felt the sting more than Rui Hachimura. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers looked flat, and Phoenix took full advantage-ramping up the defensive pressure, forcing turnovers, and turning them into easy transition buckets. The Lakers never found their rhythm, and the Suns never let them.
For Hachimura, the night was particularly frustrating. In 23 minutes of action, he attempted just one shot, finishing with zero points and a single rebound. It was his quietest performance of the season, and afterward, he didn’t shy away from acknowledging how difficult it was to feel disconnected from the offense.
“I don’t remember when I had the ball this whole game,” Hachimura said postgame. “That’s happened.
Playing with these guys, I signed up for that. I understand it… But with this, I think the whole team, everyone knows and understands, that’s not how we’re gonna win.”
That sentiment hits at something deeper than just a box score stat. Hachimura is part of a starting five that includes high-usage players like LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic.
When the offense flows, there’s enough ball movement to keep everyone engaged. But when the team gets bogged down-like they did against Phoenix-role players like Hachimura can get lost in the shuffle.
And it wasn’t just a matter of missed opportunities. The Suns were relentless defensively, disrupting passing lanes and forcing the Lakers into bad decisions.
That chaos never allowed the Lakers to settle into their sets or work through their reads. For a player like Hachimura, who thrives off rhythm touches and spot-up opportunities, that kind of game script makes it nearly impossible to get going.
Still, Hachimura didn’t duck responsibility. He acknowledged that his role will shift depending on matchups and who’s on the floor, but he also emphasized the importance of trust and ball movement-two things that have defined the Lakers’ better performances this season.
“Those games that we’ve been winning, we’ve been passing to each other, we’ve been trusting each other and playing for each other to win those games,” he said. “So it’s a tough one for me, but it is what it is. It’s one of those games where I gotta just [forget it] and move on to the next game.”
That mindset is crucial, especially considering how demanding the Lakers’ upcoming schedule is. The Western Conference isn’t giving anyone a break this season, and Los Angeles is going to need more than just its stars to keep pace. Hachimura, despite the off night, remains a key piece of that puzzle.
While his scoring was absent against the Suns, Hachimura’s effort on the defensive end has been a bright spot this season. Known early in his career for his midrange game and smooth shooting stroke, he’s made strides as a two-way player in 2025-26-and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Both Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart have praised Hachimura’s commitment on defense, pointing to his improved footwork, physicality, and willingness to take on tough assignments. That kind of buy-in matters, especially on a team with championship aspirations. The Lakers don’t need Hachimura to be a 20-point scorer every night, but they do need him to stay engaged on both ends-and to be ready when the offense finds him again.
For now, chalk it up as one of those nights. The Lakers got punched in the mouth by a Suns team that came in with energy and execution.
But Hachimura’s response-acknowledging the struggle without making excuses-shows a level of maturity that bodes well for the long haul. The Lakers will need that mindset as they navigate the grind of a long season in a brutal conference.