Austin Reeves made his return to the Lakers lineup after missing three games due to a strained left calf, but the team’s defensive struggles persisted. On Tuesday at the Mortgage Matchup Center, the Lakers’ defense faltered significantly against the Phoenix Suns, who shot an impressive 59% from the field—a season high—and matched the most points scored against the Lakers this year. The Suns, led by guards Devin Booker (21 points) and Dillon Brooks (25 points), who combined for 17-of-29 shooting, outperformed their previous 56.5% shooting versus the Lakers on December 1.
Coach J.J. Redick acknowledged the team’s challenges, noting that their young roster, which thrives on movement, is currently unable to do so effectively, leaving them “stuck in the mud.” The Lakers, now 19-9, remain in the upper half of the competitive Western Conference but are struggling with a meager plus-1.1 point differential after heavy losses to Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio. Tuesday marked the first time this season the Lakers experienced consecutive losses, entering their Christmas Day clash with the Houston Rockets hampered by several injuries.
LeBron James led the scoring with 23 points, shooting 7-of-14, while Luka Doncic missed the game due to a left foot contusion suffered in a recent matchup against the Clippers. Deandre Ayton contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Reeves, coming off the bench for the first time in two seasons, scored 17 points, added two assists, but had three turnovers. Although Reeves is not officially on a minutes restriction, the team is carefully monitoring his playing time after his recent injury.
Reeves expressed some discomfort adjusting to a bench role, having played nearly 22 minutes, but emphasized his willingness to adapt for the benefit of the team. Calf injuries remain a serious concern for the NBA this season, especially after several star players suffered Achilles ruptures in last year’s playoffs. Reeves had been one of the most heavily utilized players, logging the second most minutes (775) on the team behind Rui Hachimura, who missed his second straight game due to right groin pain.
Coach Redick admitted that Reeves might have needed a physical break given his heavy load. During the game, Reeves appeared off his rhythm early on, fumbling passes and struggling defensively, as Suns guard Jamaree Bouyere scored multiple consecutive layups. The Suns’ dominance expanded further, leading by as much as 29 points in the third quarter. Lakers reserves Maxi Kleber and rookie Adu Tierro were brought in late in the third quarter, signaling a quiet surrender as the crowd began leaving with seven minutes remaining. Tierro made free throws despite distractions from the Suns’ Brooks, who was enjoying courtside seats.
Additionally, Lakers center Jackson Hayes left the game in the second quarter due to left ankle soreness, an aggravation of a prior injury, and did not return. The team faces ongoing injury challenges as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
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Fan Take: This latest Lakers loss underscores how crucial depth and defense are in today’s NBA, especially for teams chasing a title. With injuries piling up, monitoring key players like Austin Reeves will be essential—both for the team’s survival and for maintaining the sport’s competitive excitement.
