Suns Fall to Lakers in Frustrating Loss Marked by Missed Opportunities and a Brutal Scoring Drought
Some games just leave a mark - not because of the final score, but because of how it all unfolded. Sunday night’s loss to the Lakers was one of those for the Phoenix Suns. It was the kind of game that feels like it slipped through their fingers, not just because of what the Lakers did, but also because of how the game was officiated - and how the Suns responded to it.
Let’s be clear: this wasn't just about the whistle, even if it felt like the officials had an outsized presence. Yes, the Lakers got to the free-throw line 43 times.
Yes, Phoenix never seemed to get the benefit of the doubt. And yes, when you’re playing a team like the Lakers - a franchise that historically lives at the line - you’ve got to expect that kind of disparity and plan accordingly.
But even with all that, the Suns had their chances.
The Breaking Point: A 24-0 Run That Changed Everything
If you’re looking for the moment the game got away, it wasn’t in the final minutes or on a questionable call. It happened in the middle - a brutal stretch where the Suns went a full eight minutes without scoring.
Eight. That’s an eternity in the NBA, and the Lakers took full advantage, ripping off a 24-0 run that flipped the game on its head.
That stretch was the difference. Everything else - the missed calls, the free-throw imbalance, the frustration - it all built from there. You can’t spot a team like the Lakers a 24-point swing and expect to come out clean on the other side.
Fighting Back - But Falling Short
To their credit, Phoenix didn’t fold. Down 20 in the fourth, they dug in and battled back.
They chipped away possession by possession, and suddenly, it was a one-possession game late. That’s the kind of resilience that says a lot about a team’s character - especially on a night when the rhythm was off, the whistle was tight, and the energy was hard to sustain.
Still, the margin for error was razor thin. A missed call here, a missed shot there, and that comeback effort wasn’t quite enough.
That’s the NBA. And when you’re playing the Lakers - especially in a game that feels like it’s being called on a curve - you’ve got to be nearly perfect.
The Suns weren’t, and it cost them.
NBA Cup Fallout
This one also stings a little more because of the context. The Suns went 0-2 in the NBA Cup group play games, and while it’s still early to project playoff seeding, those losses could loom large come April. Every game counts - especially the ones that feel like they slipped away.
Bright Side Baller Standings Update
There weren’t many bright spots in the Suns' recent outing against the Thunder, but Jamaree Bouyea brought consistent energy and effort - and that earned him his second Bright Side Baller nod of the season. With 25 games in the books and injuries continuing to shape the rotation, no single player has truly pulled away in the standings. But Bouyea’s hustle stood out.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Let’s take a closer look at who else made their case:
Devin Booker
27 points (7-of-17 FG, 0-of-5 3PT, 13-of-16 FT), 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, +4 +/-
Booker did what he could to keep the Suns in it. He lived at the line and played through contact all night, but the outside shot wasn’t falling.
Even so, he nearly willed Phoenix back into it with a complete stat line.
Mark Williams
20 points (9-of-10 FG), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, +14 +/-
Hyper-efficient and active on both ends. Williams was a force inside, converting nearly everything around the rim and protecting the paint with authority.
Dillon Brooks
18 points (6-of-9 FG, 4-of-7 3PT), 1 rebound, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls, +12 +/-
Brooks brought the fire early, hitting big threes and playing his usual brand of physical defense - though that edge also led to foul trouble. Still, his energy was infectious.
Grayson Allen
13 points (4-of-11 FG, 1-of-5 3PT), 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers, -4 +/-
Allen struggled with his shot but made up for it by distributing the ball and creating turnovers on the defensive end.
Royce O’Neale
12 points (4-of-7 FG, 4-of-7 3PT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -23 +/-
O’Neale was lights-out from deep, but his team-high negative plus-minus reflects the tough minutes he logged during the Lakers’ big run.
Collin Gillespie
10 points (4-of-9 FG, 2-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -2 +/-
Gillespie continues to show flashes as a steady hand off the bench. He knocked down timely shots and kept the offense moving.
Bottom Line
This was a game the Suns could’ve had - and maybe should’ve had. But between the whistle, the scoring drought, and the Lakers’ ability to capitalize, it turned into a missed opportunity.
The good news? Phoenix showed fight.
The bad news? Moral victories don’t count in the standings.
And if the Suns want to avoid looking back in April wondering what might’ve been, they’ll need to clean up the little things and keep grinding.