The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they were ready for battle to start things off against Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Luka Doncic, in particular, seemed as though he was on his way to another monster scoring effort after dropping 20 points in the first quarter alone. But then the Lakers capitulated in the second quarter, turning the ball over in live fashion as the Suns converted them into points seemingly on every possession, and they couldn't recover en route to a 125-108 defeat.
Doncic was smothered by the Suns' defense in the second quarter; there was a stretch in which he coughed the ball up on consecutive possessions and Phoenix ran out for easy buckets. The Lakers star had nine turnovers on the night, with the team having 21 overall which the Suns converted for 32 points. In fact, LA had more turnovers (21) than assists (18) which is simply horrendous.
After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick offered up a reality check for his squad after getting punched in the mouth by a Suns team that lost Devin Booker to a groin injury in the second quarter.
“If you don’t play hard against that team, you’re gonna get exposed,” Redick said, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
The Suns did indeed expose a Lakers team that seemed to be suffering from being on the second night of a back-to-back. LeBron James may have been back, but he was dreadful as well and needed until the very end to extend his historic 10-point streak.
Suns lay the smackdown on the Lakers
The Suns were incredibly locked in all night long, and it's a testament to Jordan Ott's coaching and Dillon Brooks' leadership that they were able to beat the Lakers despite being shorthanded.
Brooks was bullying the Lakers all night long and finished with 33 points on the night. The Lakers also couldn't stop Collin Gillespie's explosion from beyond the arc, with Gillespie drilling eight threes on the night.
All the Lakers can do now is put this loss in the rearview mirror and look to bounce back on Thursday night when they face the Toronto Raptors.
