Lakers Lack Energy and Focus, Can't Get Stops, Lose to Phoenix 125-108

Sunday, the Lakers played a great first quarter and then three very, very ordinary ones. That was more than enough to beat the woeful New Orleans Pelicans, but it was pretty clear a better performance would be required Monday night to beat a Phoenix team that has been one of the NBA's better surprises. 

Well, it didn't happen. Final score, Phoenix 125, Lakers 108. And this even after Suns star Devin Booker left the game after 10 minutes of play, with a groin injury.

The purple and gold were low on energy for most of the night, and after a decent first quarter simply couldn't get any stops. Meanwhile, the offense was disjointed and disorganized. Not so much from an efficiency standpoint (41-80 shooting), but 21 turnovers turned into 32 points for the Suns. Those TO's fueled a 28-2 advantage in fast break points for Phoenix. The Lakers had one steal, and didn't block a shot. Gotta get near the ball to block 'em, of course. 

Luka Dončić put up 38 points on 15-26 shooting but also had nine turnovers. You can live with that, though, compared to extremely quiet nights from Austin Reaves (a backloaded 16 points) and LeBron James (11 points, 3-10). Rui Hachimura? One shot, no points, one rebound in 23 minutes. 

That's not good. 

It was a really poor end to what had been a fun seven game win streak, and reminds the Lakers they have a lot of work to do as the road trip begins in Toronto later this week. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers don't come to play, get blown out. 

SEGMENT 2: LeBron has been awfully quiet. 

SEGMENT 3: Changes the context around the road trip. 

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