Dorian Finney-Smith limped through warmups, his lingering ankle issues evident. Those same problems had sidelined him in the Lakers’ recent losses to Brooklyn and Denver. Yet, when the game began, he battled with Kevin Durant, forcing the Phoenix star into an ice-cold start—Durant missed eight of his first nine shots.
In the second half, Finney-Smith made his presence felt on the offensive end, knocking down two clutch three-pointers and securing a key offensive rebound.
Jordan Goodwin found himself in an unfamiliar position—starting back-to-back games, a rarity for him, especially on a team with championship aspirations. On Sunday, he took on the challenge of guarding Devin Booker. Goodwin made his presence known immediately, opening the game with a tip-in and sealing the win with another crucial hustle play in the closing moments.
“Never judge a player by his box score,” JJ Redick said of Goodwin, who finished with just two points and four fouls but had an undeniable impact.
Jaxson Hayes, a former lottery pick cast aside by his original team and overlooked by much of the league, dominated the paint. He thrived in defensive rotations, helping the Lakers regain their intensity after a brutal four-game road trip where they struggled to find their footing.
Even without LeBron James and Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup, the Lakers looked more like the team that had won eight straight rather than the one that had just lost four in a row. Thanks to Hayes’ return and the defensive energy from Finney-Smith and Goodwin, the Lakers reasserted their identity in a 107-96 win over the Suns to kick off a five-game homestand.
That’s not to say the Lakers’ stars didn’t shine. They did.
Austin Reaves, fresh off a near-heroic effort in Denver, scored 28 points, adding six assists and four rebounds. He buried a three-pointer over rookie Oso Ighodaro while drawing a foul, leaving Durant slumping in frustration on the Suns’ bench. Later, he drove past Booker, absorbed contact, finished at the rim, and flexed toward the Lakers’ sideline.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic—rested after missing the Denver game—delivered a masterful performance with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. It was his fifth 30-point game in the past six contests.
“Getting there,” Doncic said postgame. “But every day, I’m feeling better.”
The Lakers are back in action Monday night against San Antonio. James, who has missed the past four games, went through an on-court workout Sunday, but his return remains uncertain. Officially listed as “day-to-day,” the expectation is that the Lakers will be cautious with his recovery from a strained groin.
In the meantime, the Lakers have found a winning formula—one that hinges on Hayes’ presence, defensive intensity, and collective effort.
Regardless of injuries, that’s the version of the Lakers they need to be. Despite playing on short rest, coming off a deflating loss in Denver, and arriving at their home arena for an early game against the Suns, they were the team that played with the most energy and determination.
“To me, that says everything about our group,” Redick said proudly.