The Lakers are having a tough week, no doubt about it. After a rough loss to their rivals, the Celtics, they’ve now dropped two nail-biters to the Magic and the Suns. Both games slipped away in the final seconds, with missed opportunities to tie or win at the buzzer.
Last night’s defeat to the Suns stings particularly hard. Not only are the Lakers battling Phoenix for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, but they also lost to a team missing its stars, Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. With this win, the Suns clinch the tiebreaker, having taken three out of their four encounters this season.
Grayson Allen was the standout for the Suns, despite a less-than-efficient night. He went 9-24 from the field and 6-16 from beyond the arc, but still led with 28 points.
His deep-range shooting had Stephen A. Smith drawing some bold comparisons on First Take, questioning why Allen looked like “the second coming of Steph Curry” against the Lakers’ defense.
The Lakers’ bench was outscored by 31 points, a surprising stat considering the Suns were without key players. Allen and the Suns’ bench combined for 56 points, while the Lakers struggled to find support beyond Jake LaRavia’s 11 points, Luka Kennard’s 8, and Jaxson Hayes’ 6.
Stephen A. also pointed out that Jarred Vanderbilt, known for his defensive prowess, didn’t see much action. Vanderbilt ended up with a -15 plus-minus in just six minutes on the floor, which might explain the limited playing time.
Currently, the Lakers sit just one game ahead of the Suns for sixth place in the West. They’ll have a chance to bounce back when they face the Warriors on Saturday. Golden State is also dealing with injuries, missing Jimmy Butler for the season and Steph Curry due to runner’s knee.
This upcoming stretch is crucial for the Lakers. After the Warriors, they face the struggling Kings, Pelicans, and Pacers.
It’s a prime opportunity to regain momentum. If they falter, the critics, including Stephen A., will undoubtedly have a lot to say.