The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak with a much-needed 107-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, extending their home winning streak to seven games. Luka Doncic led the way with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in his return from an ankle injury, while Austin Reaves added 28 points and Jaxson Hayes matched his season high with 19.
The Lakers, back from an 0-4 road trip, controlled the game early, building a 20-point lead in the first quarter and holding off a late Suns push. Even without LeBron James (groin) for a fourth straight game and Rui Hachimura (knee) for a ninth, the Lakers welcomed back multiple key contributors, including Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Gabe Vincent.
Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 100-92 with under two minutes remaining, but Finney-Smith drilled a clutch three-pointer to put the game out of reach. The Suns’ struggles from deep – Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal combined to shoot just 2 of 12 from beyond the arc—helped Los Angeles stay in control.
Though the Lakers slipped in the standings during their road trip, they remain competitive with Doncic and Reaves leading the charge as they await James’ return. Let’s provide a rating for every Lakers player for his performance on Sunday afternoon.
Luka Doncic: A+
Stats: 33 PTS, 11 REB (1 OREB, 10 DREB), 8 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 4 PF, 8-20 FG, 4-11 3PT, 13-14 FT, +16, 40 MIN
Doncic made his return in style, leading the Lakers with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Despite some inefficiency from the field (8-for-20), he made up for it by relentlessly attacking the rim and sinking 13 of 14 free throws. His ability to control the tempo and make timely plays was crucial, especially when the Suns attempted a late rally. The Lakers looked like a different team with him back in the lineup, as he dictated the offense and kept Phoenix on its heels.
Austin Reaves: A
Stats: 28 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 10-21 FG, 4-10 3PT, 4-5 FT, +14, 39 MIN
Reaves continued his stellar play, dropping 28 points while contributing across the board with four rebounds, six assists, and two steals. He confidently stepped into three-pointers, kept the offense flowing, and even provided a highlight-reel block. Though he cooled off in the second half, his early scoring outburst helped the Lakers build a commanding lead that Phoenix could never fully erase.
Jaxson Hayes: B+
Stats: 19 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 8-10 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-7 FT, +7, 29 MIN
Hayes delivered one of his best performances of the season, finishing with 19 points on an efficient 8-for-10 shooting. He was active on both ends, using his athleticism to finish around the rim and provide rim protection. While his free-throw struggles (3-for-7) were a blemish, his energy and effort made a noticeable impact in his 29 minutes of play.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-7 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-4 FT, +16, 36 MIN
Finney-Smith’s night was a mixed bag—he hit a clutch three-pointer late to put the game away but was otherwise quiet offensively, going 3-for-7 from the field. His real value came on defense, where he helped contain Phoenix’s perimeter threats and provided solid rebounding. His +16 plus-minus reflected his steady impact, even if the box score didn’t jump out.
Gabe Vincent: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 3-7 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +15, 27 MIN
Vincent gave the Lakers a much-needed boost from deep, hitting three of his five three-point attempts. He didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but his timely shooting helped stretch the Suns’ defense. With just one assist and no free-throw attempts, his overall offensive involvement was limited, but his ability to space the floor proved valuable.
Dalton Knecht: C
Stats: 3 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 1-5 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 16 MIN
It was a forgettable outing for Knecht, who struggled to find his rhythm in 16 minutes of action. He managed just three points on 1-for-5 shooting and was mostly a non-factor offensively. With the Lakers getting healthier, his role may fluctuate, but he’ll need to bounce back from this quiet performance.
Christian Koloko: C
Stats: 3 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 1-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -1, 15 MIN
Koloko played limited minutes but provided some interior presence, grabbing four rebounds and blocking a shot. However, his offensive struggles were apparent, as he converted just one of five shot attempts. While his energy was solid, he didn’t have a major impact in this one.
Jordan Goodwin: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 1-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -3, 28 MIN
Goodwin put in a gritty effort on defense, swatting two shots and battling on the glass, but he struggled offensively. He shot just 1-for-5 from the field, missing all three of his three-point attempts, and didn’t get to the free-throw line. While his hustle was evident, his inability to knock down open looks hurt his effectiveness.
Jarred Vanderbilt: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 10 MIN
Vanderbilt saw just 10 minutes of action and didn’t make much of an impact offensively, missing his only shot attempt. He grabbed three rebounds and played his usual brand of energetic defense, but with the Lakers at full strength in the frontcourt, his role was limited.
