The Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 107-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, fueled by another stellar performance from Luka Dončić.
This win marked L.A.’s first triumph since LeBron James was sidelined with a groin strain. The Lakers had dropped three straight games in his absence and are expected to be without their star for at least another week.
Los Angeles controlled the game from the outset, building an early lead in the first quarter and never looking back. The Suns mounted a brief comeback in the second quarter, closing the gap, but the Lakers reasserted their dominance, heading into halftime with a 17-point advantage.
Phoenix attempted to rally behind a strong second-half push from Kevin Durant, narrowing the deficit to single digits in the closing minutes. However, L.A. remained composed, pulling away once more to secure the win.
Dončić led all scorers with 33 points, adding 11 rebounds and eight assists, while Austin Reaves delivered a strong 28-point effort to bolster the Lakers.
The Suns, now 31-37, find themselves on the fringes of the playoff race with just 14 games remaining. That mounting pressure appeared evident during a first-quarter huddle, where Durant was seen in an animated exchange with head coach Mike Budenholzer. Though the specifics of their conversation remain unclear, tensions have been rising, with Phoenix dropping five of its last eight games since the start of March. Shooting struggles plagued the Suns in this matchup, particularly from beyond the arc, where they managed just 9-of-41.
For the Lakers, adapting to life without James has been challenging, especially amid other injuries. Rui Hachimura has missed multiple games with a knee issue, while Dončić and Jaxson Hayes both sat out L.A.’s recent loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Dončić briefly caused concern early in the fourth quarter when he was spotted icing his right ankle after an awkward collision. However, he returned to action shortly after, signaling that the injury was not serious.
With a 41-25 record, the Lakers are now in a tight race for playoff positioning, tied in the loss column with four other Western Conference teams. With two fewer games played than their rivals, L.A. has extra opportunities to solidify its standing as the regular season winds down.