Shorthanded Lakers fall big to Suns.
PHOENIX — The Lakers fall big to the Suns, 130–104, in a shorthanded mismatch with four key contributors out of the team's rotation at the back end of a back-to-back, dropping their season record to 13–17.
Coming into Phoenix, the Lakers were without LeBron James, who was out with left ankle soreness; Anthony Davis, with right foot soreness he suffered in Friday’s win over the Nuggets; Austin Reaves, with a right ankle sprain he sustained in Sunday’s win over the Wizards; Russell Westbrook, with left foot soreness; and Juan Toscano-Anderson, who's been dealing with a right ankle sprain for a couple of weeks.
The lack of big man presence was telling in the Lakers' big loss, surrounding 15 offensive rebounds and 51 total boards in a poor shooting night from the floor, going just 45% (39-for-87) total, their 3rd worst on the season.
With all that production out of the Lakers lineup, Los Angeles looked to their depth to give them a fighting chance.
The only offensive threat for the Lakers was Dennis Schröder, who scored a season-high 30 points on 6-of-19 (63.3%) shooting and 2-of-2 from behind the arc.
“Tonight wasn't enough. We lost, so that doesn't matter,” said Schröder when asked about carrying the team with players like LeBron and Anthony Davis out.
Schröder was pulled late in the fourth, right before he hit the 30-minute mark in minutes played in a game far from reach, notching 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 29 minutes.
Thomas Bryant, Lonnie Walker IV, and Kendrick Nunn were the only other Lakers to score in double figures in Monday’s loss, combining for 49 points.
Thomas Bryant and Lonnie Walker IV scored 16 points each, with Bryant shooting 6-for-12 (50%) from the floor and adding 5 boards in 26 minutes. Walker IV finished with a shooting production of 3-for-6 (50%) from three and 5-for-13 (38%) total, adding 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 30 minutes.
On paper, Kendrick Nunn had a pretty solid game, but the four-year veteran hasn't looked like the player the Lakers signed, showing a going-through-the-motion effort as trade rumors loom with his name attached.
Nunn finished with 17 points in 16 minutes on 60% (6-for-12) shooting overall and 50% (3-for-6) shooting from behind the arc.
The Lakers will continue their road trip this Wednesday against the 16–13 Sacramento Kings at 7 PM on Spectrum SportsNet.
