Luka Doncic recorded 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while Austin Reaves contributed 28 points, helping the Los Angeles Lakers break a four-game losing streak with a 107-96 victory against the visiting Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Jaxson Hayes equaled his seasonal best with 19 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith contributed 10 for the Lakers (41-25), who were ahead by as much as 20 and limited the Suns to 39.3 percent shooting, including 9 of 41 (22 percent) from beyond the arc.
Competing without sidelined starters LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers recorded a shooting percentage of 43.2 from the field and 35.9 percent (14 of 39) from three-point range.
Kevin Durant topped Phoenix (31-37) with 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Devin Booker recorded 19 points, Ryan Dunn contributed 13, Nick Richards provided 11, and Royce O’Neale added 10. The Suns have been defeated in three of their past four matches.
Los Angeles was behind 9-8 early on before they launched a 23-2 surge to lead 31-11 with 1:21 remaining in the first quarter. Doncic contributed 13 consecutive points throughout the stretch.
Phoenix was behind 31-15 at the conclusion of the first quarter and 54-37 by halftime.
Doncic and Reaves contributed 30 points in the first half for the Lakers, who held the Suns to 36.4 percent shooting, including just 2 of 18 (11.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
After the break, Phoenix answered back and narrowed the gap to 63-55 with 7:04 remaining in the quarter following O’Neale’s three-pointer that finished an 8-0 streak.
The Suns were behind 83-71 at the close of the third quarter and got to 85-76 on Tyus Jones’ 3-pointer with 9:10 remaining in the game.
Los Angeles had its advantage reduced to 100-92 with 2:03 remaining, but Dorian Finney-Smith made a 3-point shot on the Lakers’ following possession to secure the win.
Phoenix guard Bradley Beal left the game at halftime due to left hamstring tightness and did not come back.
Los Angeles enhanced its record to 26-7 at home this season and achieved a split in the four-game series against the Suns. — Field Level Media/Reuters