Deandre Ayton Reflects on Lakers’ First 20 Games After Streak-Snapping Loss
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The Los Angeles Lakers dropped a 17-point decision to the Phoenix Suns on Monday, halting a seven-game winning streak, yet center Deandre Ayton remains upbeat about the team’s overall progress through the opening quarter of the season.
“We’re not putting our heads down,” Ayton said after the game at Crypto.com Arena. “We’ve played 20 games and won 15. That’s pretty good.”
Strong Record Despite Setback
Los Angeles stands at 15-5, the second-best mark in the Western Conference. Newcomers Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia have blended with the established core of Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, helping the Lakers to one of the conference’s top starts.
Focus Shifts to Road Trip
The club begins a three-game trip to the East Coast later this week, facing the surging Toronto Raptors, longtime rival Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers led by guard Tyrese Maxey.
Ayton identified defense and ball security as priorities. “Once we start on defense, that’s what creates our offense,” he said. “It’s hard to stop us when we’re going downhill.”
Chance for Redemption
The Lakers went 3-2 on their previous road swing, with lopsided defeats in Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Ayton called the upcoming stretch an opportunity to “redeem ourselves,” adding that the tight schedule will test both physical and mental stamina.
Assessing the Suns Loss
Regarding Monday’s defeat, Ayton credited Phoenix’s intensity. “They wanted the win more than we did,” he admitted.
The Lakers return home after the trip, where their performance against three playoff contenders is expected to shape early perceptions of the team’s ceiling.
Source: Lakers Nation
