Lakers fall to Suns, drop to 3-1

The Los Angeles Lakers came up short in their first road game of the season, losing 105-109 to the Phoenix Suns. Let’s dive into takeaways from the Lakers first loss of the season.

Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura

Anthony Davis was once again the driving force for the Lakers, finishing with 29 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.

He asserted his dominance inside against the Suns’ frontcourt, showcasing his advantage over most big men around the league. In the first three games of the season, Davis was able to get to the free-throw line in double digits, but today, he had just six opportunities due to the small ball lineups shown by the Suns throughout this game.

Rui Hachimura went for a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, continuing to be the best three-point shooter on this team, percentage-wise. 

Suns Erase Early Lakers Lead

The game turned in the first quarter when Davis was subbed out. The Suns took advantage, erasing an early 18-point Lakers lead to take the lead by halftime.

The Suns’ resurgence seemed to make the Lakers flat and low on energy, which lingered throughout the rest of this game. The superstar duo of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 66 points, often capitalizing on defensive switches that allowed them to attack mismatches.

After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick took accountability, saying, “We lost to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s ability to make tough two-point shots. If there is one thing to nitpick, it is probably me.”

The Lakers drop their first game of the JJ Redick era 🥲 pic.twitter.com/r5gt9cNbsw

— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) October 29, 2024

LeBron Struggles in Rare Off-Night

LeBron James struggled mightily, scoring just 11 points on 3/14 shooting. He uncharacteristically missed several open looks and seemed out of rhythm for much of the night, playing like a 40-year-old coming off a back-to-back.

Lakers Come Up Just Short in Tight Fourth Quarter

Despite the struggles, the Lakers had their chances late, with a beautiful Redick play design for the game-tying shot.

The Lakers will look to regroup as they head to face the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. They’ll need to shore up their defense and get more consistent production from their supporting cast if they want to notch their first road win of the year.