Late in the the second quarter, Jackson Hayes secured a rebound and passed it to Luka Doncic, who immediately made a poor pass resulting in a turnover. Moments later, Doncic grabbed another rebound but lost control of the ball, causing yet another turnover. He continued to make errors, throwing away two more passes within a minute. In just two minutes of the quarter, Doncic committed four turnovers.
The Lakers struggled with ball control throughout the game, leading to a 125-108 defeat against the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena. The team committed 22 turnovers in total, with Doncic responsible for nine.
“Yeah, it was my fault. There’s no way I can have nine turnovers in this game,” said Doncic, who also scored 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. “In that second quarter, because they were shooting, instead of taking shots, I think we were trying to involve everyone. But there’s no excuse for nine turnovers.”
Austin Reaves was nearly as problematic, turning the ball over five times. “Once I dribbled the ball out of bounds,” he admitted, adding that he needs to improve on ball handling despite scoring 16 points. LeBron James, marking his 1,297th regular-season game with double-digit scoring, had three turnovers, and the Lakers’ top three scorers combined for 17 turnovers.
The Suns, known for their aggressive defense with an average of 10.6 steals per game, took advantage of the Lakers’ mistakes. James pointed out that the turnovers and resulting fast-break points were key to the Suns’ success and that the Lakers struggled to handle such a tough defense at home.
After this game, the Lakers face a challenging three-game road trip on the East Coast, playing against strong teams like the 14-7 Toronto Raptors, 11-9 Boston Celtics, and 10-9 Philadelphia 76ers. James emphasized the importance of refocusing for the upcoming difficult stretch, while Doncic showed limited interest in scouting the Raptors, noting only that their coach is making them play physically.
Additionally, the team is uncertain if James will play in consecutive games due to ongoing foot issues, although he described the current problem as old rather than new.
Defensively, the Lakers were ineffective despite having a plan. They allowed the Suns to shoot at a 57% field goal rate and 44% from beyond the arc. Notably, Colin Gillespie sank 8 out of 14 three-pointers, scoring 28 points, while Royce O’Neal also hit two long-range shots. Lakers coach J.J. Redick expressed frustration over the defensive breakdowns, particularly on guarding perimeter shooters.
Fan Take: This game highlights how turnovers and defensive lapses can quickly unravel even talented teams like the Lakers. For basketball fans, it serves as a reminder that strong fundamentals and discipline are as crucial as individual skill, especially in high-stakes competition.
