Lakers vs. Suns: Can L.A. Stop the Slide?
The Lakers (40-25) have fallen from the No. 2 seed to No. 5, now carrying the fourth-worst active losing streak in the NBA. With injuries and tough losses piling up, today’s matchup against the Suns (31-36) is a crucial opportunity to bounce back.
ABC showdown between the Lakers and Suns 🔥
LA looking to snap a 4 game losing streak 🙏 pic.twitter.com/TCtIdpwuAW
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) March 16, 2025
Reaves Must Be Aggressive
With LeBron James out, Austin Reaves needs at least 17+ shot attempts tonight. When he’s aggressive, he eases the burden on Luka Dončić and creates opportunities for others.
He’s proven he can thrive under these circumstances, averaging 28.5 points, 9.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds in games without LeBron this season. If he sets the tone early, the Lakers’ offense will flow much better.
Taking Advantage of Below .500 Teams
The Lakers don’t have much wiggle room left in the schedule, facing below .500 teams only seven more times in the regular season. These are must-win games. Dropping winnable matchups now will only make the road tougher down the stretch.
Lakers Tough Stretch, But No Need to Panic
The 17-4 late run vs. Denver showed flashes of what this team can do, but once again, closing out games was an issue. To make matters worse, Nikola Jokić had more free throw attempts (17) than the entire Lakers team (16). That kind of imbalance made it nearly impossible to complete the upset.
Lakers Keys to the Game
- Reaves Taking 17+ Shots – His scoring and playmaking will be key to easing Luka’s load.
- Capitalizing on Below .500 Teams – The Lakers can’t afford to waste these opportunities.
- Getting to the Line – They need to avoid another game where they get outshot at the stripe.
The Lakers still control their destiny, but the margin for error is shrinking. Winning these must-win games starts tonight.
