The Los Angeles Lakers secured a convincing 107-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns at home on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak thanks to another outstanding performance by Luka Dončić. This win marked the team’s first triumph since LeBron James was sidelined with a groin injury, as they had suffered three consecutive losses without him. James is expected to remain out for at least another week due to the injury.
Leading for the majority of the game, the Lakers established an early lead in the first quarter and maintained control throughout. Despite a brief surge by the Suns in the second quarter to narrow the gap, the Lakers surged ahead once more, ending the first half with a 17-point advantage. Phoenix made attempts to mount a comeback, spurred by a strong second-half showing from Kevin Durant. Although the Suns managed to reduce the deficit to single digits in the final minutes, they fell short of securing the win as the Lakers pulled away once more.
Dončić excelled with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, supported by Austin Reaves who contributed an impressive 28-point effort to lead the Lakers to victory. The Suns, currently standing at 31-37, are facing an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot with only 14 games remaining in the season. Tensions seemed to rise within the team, as evidenced by a heated exchange between Durant and head coach Mike Budenholzer during a first-quarter timeout.
The Suns have struggled with a 5-3 record since the start of March, and their shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc, hindered them in this game. Conversely, the Lakers have faced challenges adjusting to James’ absence, compounded by injuries to other key starters. Despite concerns about Dončić’s ankle injury in the fourth quarter, he quickly returned to the court, indicating that the setback was not severe.
With a record of 41-25, the Lakers are tied in the loss column with four other Western Conference teams. However, having played fewer games than their counterparts, the Lakers have the opportunity to improve their playoff position with additional matchups remaining in the regular season.
