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In a run of frustrating defeats, the Lakers keep topping themselves. Facing a Suns team without either Devin Booker or Dillon Brooks, the Lakers had a horrid defensive showing to drop a third straight game, 113-110.
In another back-and-forth finish, LeBron James tied the game with a putback with just over 20 seconds remaining before Royce O’Neale hit a 3-pointer to win it with 0.9 left.
Phoenix converted on 22 shots from range, outscoring the Lakers by 33 points from three. The Lakers offset some of that by outscoring Phoenix by 12 at the free throw line, but it was a difference too large to overcome.
The game began with O’Neale knocking down a 3-pointer. Both teams exchanged buckets before Phoenix started building a cushion on their lead.
Luka Dončić had five points for LA. LeBron and Austin Reaves combined for four points. Ryan Dunn, meanwhile, scored a fast five points for the Suns.
Phoenix was leading by eight with LA was in a scoring drought. Los Angeles then heated up with a 14-0 scoring run to take the lead. LeBron and Luka led the run with eight points between them. Luka was the first person on either team to score in double figures with 12 points.
At the end of the first, LA was up by five.
Grayson Allen knocked down a 3-pointer to open the second period. Marcus Smart was fouled from behind the arc and converted on two of the three free throws. Phoenix jumped ahead by four on a 10-2 scoring run. Reaves scored on a jumper to stop the bleeding for LA.
At the 7:18 mark, the Suns were up by two.
Jalen Green drained a 3-pointer, which was followed by a Laker turnover that led to another triple by O’Neale, forcing a timeout as LA quickly found itself down double digits.
Phoenix’s Mark Williams picked up his fourth foul of the half, sitting him down the rest of the way.
The Lakers put together a good end to the half with an 8-0 scoring run to take a two-point lead until Allen converted on a layup to tie the game at halftime.
LA started the third period scoring seven straight points, which forced the Suns to call a timeout. Out of that break, Phoenix missed and LeBron scored on the other end.
Los Angeles was on a 25-6 run dating back to the first half.
Deandre Ayton finally scored his first two points of the night on a lob from Luka to put the Lakers up 11. Allen drained a 3-pointer, helping the Suns finally get a shot to go in. LeBron responded by joining Luka in double figures with 13 points.
At the 5:07 mark, the purple and gold were up by 12.
Phoenix snatched the momentum with 10 straight points in under two minutes to make it a two-point game as Allen drained back-to-back triples in the run. He then knocked down another one to tie the game. The threes kept falling for Phoenix, keeping them in the lead despite Luka knocking down one as well.
Going into the fourth quarter, the game was tied.
The final frame started with Jaxson Hayes dunking the ball. On the other end, Ryan Dunn drained a triple for the Suns. Kennard scored a quick four in a row for LA. The Suns then went up by 10.
LA left Collin Gillespie open two different times from behind the arc and he drained both. Los Angeles was stumbling and fumbling around, losing all its focus.
Smart drained a 3-pointer to stop some of the bleeding for the Lakers. Gillespie then responded with another triple. This game was completely taken over by the Suns. Smart completed a three-point play, proving to be the only Laker playing hard in the quarter.
Luka converted on a three-point play after a great defensive play by Smart. At the 2:57 mark it was a two-point game after back-to-back triples from Luka. Gillespie responded with one himself on the other end.
LaRavia came up big in crunch time with four points, helping keep Los Angeles in it. At the 1:29 mark, it was a three-point Suns lead.
Reaves tied the game with a 3-pointer. O’Neale’s offensive rebound off an Allen miss, put the Suns back up by two.
With 22 seconds left, LeBron’s putback of a Smart missed layup tied it again. O’Neale knocked down a clutch triple that put Phoenix up by three with 0.9 seconds.
The Lakers had a chance to tie it as a great out of bounds play got Reaves an open look to tie, but his shot missed.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 41 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Reaves notched 14 points with three rebounds and two assists. LeBron ended with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Hayes had six points with eight rebounds. LaRavia pitched in with 11 points. Kennard scored eight points with three rebounds. Smart ended with 13 points and three assists.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 5:30 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.