The Los Angeles Lakers fell to a 104-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns, their first loss of the 2024-25 season after an impeccable 3-0 start. This game was marked by the Lakers jumping out to an 18-point first-quarter lead which the Suns comfortably erased by halftime to take a two-point lead. A closely-fought second half led to the Suns pipping the Lakers by four points to improve their record to 3-1 as well.
The Suns’ success hinged on their dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Booker scored 33 points (11-23 FG), marking his first high-output performance of the season, while Durant complemented him with a strong showing of 30 points (11-20 FG) and eight rebounds. Bradley Beal contributed 15 points (6-14 FG), and Royce O’Neale delivered a well-rounded performance with 12 points (4-9 FG) and nine rebounds.
Anthony Davis was the focal point for the Lakers, scoring 29 points (12-26 FG) and collecting 16 rebounds along with three blocks, with 16 points coming in the first quarter. LeBron James struggled significantly, finishing with just 11 points (3-14 FG) and eight assists. Austin Reaves put up 23 points (8-15 FG) while Rui Hachimura continued his strong start to the season with 20 points (8-18 FG) and 10 rebounds.
Here are three major takeaways from this contest.
Suns’ Stat Leaders:
Devin Booker: 33 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL (11-23 FG, 3-8 3PT, 8-8 FT)
Kevin Durant: 30 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 4 BLK (11-20 FG, 2-6 3PT, 6-7 FT)
Bradley Beal: 15 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK (6-14 FG, 1-7 3PT, 2-2 FT)
Royce O’Neale: 12 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 2 BLK (4-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT)
Tyus Jones: 7 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL (3-8 FG, 1-4 3PT)
Lakers’ Stat Leaders:
Anthony Davis: 29 PTS, 15 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK (12-24 FG, 0-3 3PT, 5-6 FT)
Austin Reaves: 23 PTS, 18 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK (8-15 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-3 FT)
Rui Hachimura: 20 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK (8-18 FG, 3-3 3PT, 1-1 FT)
D’Angelo Russell: 14 PTS, 1 REB, 8 AST (5-13 FG, 2-9 3PT, 2-2 FT)
LeBron James: 11 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL (3-14 FG, 2-5 3PT, 3-6 FT)
Looks Like Father Time Finally Paid LeBron James A Visit
LeBron James had one of the worst performances of his Lakers tenure tonight, scoring just 11 points on 21.4% from the field despite playing 35 minutes. James was unable to impact the game as a scorer, a feat that many would consider shocking given his offensive proficiency despite his age in recent seasons.
The burst of speed that allows James to attack mismatches and transition opportunities was simply not there for LeBron today, as his scoring woes were compounded by an inability to attack the rim satisfactorily.
James was 1-9 from two-point range, with a decent 2-5 three-point shooting performance the only reason he even reached double-digit points. He had a -17 impact on the game, the only starter to be in negatives while Hachimura was a +20, Davis a +14, and Reaves a +12.
This is one of the best examples of how much James has regressed compared to his prime due to age. While his performances were still mind-bogglingly high-octane till last season, he’s averaging 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists this season with a clear step back in terms of effectiveness.
Phoenix Suns Rotation Is Deep
The top-heavy and oddly-constructed Suns of last season are long gone, with the franchise making a bunch of home-run additions over the summer which have already paid off.
Tyus Jones is continuing to hold his crown as one of the most efficient point guards in the NBA, organizing this supercharged Suns offense while minimizing turnovers, notching only one tonight for his five assists. Rookie Ryan Dunn was one of the key reasons behind LeBron’s struggles, and his impact in just 15 minutes of game-time was significant in slowing the Lakers down offensively.
Royce O’Neale isn’t a new addition but he’s been one of their best two-way players this season, shining in this game and ending it as a game-high +25.
We know that the duo of Booker and Durant will lead the team from the front with Beal chipping in as a third option, so the Suns’ augmented other points of concern and it’s paying off to start the season under new coach Mike Budenholzer.
Anthony Davis Is The Early-Season MVP
Even though the Lakers lost this game, it’s becoming harder to dispute Anthony Davis’ status as one of the best players in the NBA right now. The recently awarded Player of the Week for the opening seven days of NBA basketball was a two-way terror once again in this game, leading the Lakers on both ends of the court in a game that was largely competitive because of his production.
Tonight’s 29-point and 15-rebound performance was the worst of the season so far for Davis, which is saying a lot because he still was the best all-around player on the court in this contest.
Davis is averaging 32.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks this season, with JJ Redick living up to the promise of playing through Davis. There’s a clear change in aggressiveness from Davis, whose free throw rate has increased from 6.8 attempts a game last season to a whopping 12.3 this season. His stats across the board are the best of his Lakers tenure, which validates his MVP-caliber play.
While players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be major competitors to Davis for the award, if the Lakers maintain a top-four seed while Davis dominates, the MVP charge is a very real possibility for him.
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