The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough loss against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, despite the Suns missing key players Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. This defeat adds to a worrying trend for the Lakers, marking their third consecutive loss and fifth in the last seven games.
Luka Doncic was a standout performer, putting up an impressive 41 points, along with eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Even though Austin Reaves and LeBron James struggled with their shooting, they still contributed 14 and 15 points, respectively. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia were the only other Lakers to hit double figures.
The game was a close three-point affair, but it highlighted a recurring issue for the Lakers: their bench production. Head coach JJ Redick is grappling with a limited rotation, and it showed on Thursday.
The Lakers' bench managed just 25 points compared to the Suns' 56. The disparity was stark in the third quarter, where the Suns' bench outscored the Lakers' 31-0.
Redick utilized a 10-player lineup, but it effectively functioned as an eight-man rotation, with Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber seeing minimal minutes. While Rui Hachimura was out due to illness, the lack of bench scoring isn't a new problem for the Lakers. They currently sit at the bottom of the league in bench points per game, averaging just 28.9.
In contrast, the top teams in the NBA, like the Pistons, Thunder, and Spurs, all boast top-10 bench scoring, each averaging over 40.5 points. As the Western Conference playoff race intensifies, the Lakers will need to find a way to bolster their bench production if they hope to rely less on their stars and make a deep postseason run.