Lakers edged in final seconds by short-handed Suns
lakers-struggles-continue-last-second-loss-suns
The Los Angeles Lakers squandered a late lead and fell to the Phoenix Suns, 113-110, on Thursday night at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Suns forward Royce O’Neale hit a three-pointer with the shot clock off and 0.7 seconds remaining, handing the Lakers their second straight defeat despite Phoenix playing without several regulars.
Los Angeles entered the game after a 4-4 homestand and had already dropped two of three meetings with Phoenix this season. Luka Doncic, coming off a poor shooting performance, opened with two early buckets and finished with a team-high 27 points. LeBron James added 24.
The Lakers erased an early 17-9 deficit with a 12-0 run, leading 27-22 after one quarter. Phoenix, however, used a barrage of three-pointers to regain control in the second, and the teams were tied 49-49 at halftime.
Out of the break, Los Angeles scored 11 straight points—highlighted by a Doncic alley-oop to Deandre Ayton—to build a double-digit cushion. Grayson Allen answered with three consecutive threes, and the game was knotted at 80 heading to the fourth.
A flagrant-1 foul on Ayton sparked an 11-0 Suns surge early in the final period. Marcus Smart trimmed the margin with a three and a three-point play, and consecutive threes from Doncic eventually cut the deficit to two. Austin Reaves tied the contest at 110 with 22 seconds left after Allen missed an open look, but O’Neale’s corner triple sealed the outcome.
The Lakers (record not provided) conclude their two-game trip Saturday against the Golden State Warriors before hosting the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Source: LakersNation.com
