Austin Reaves returned from a left calf pressure that sidelined him for 3 video games, however the Lakers’ second-leading scorer did nothing to repair the workforce’s most evident weak spot.
The Lakers’ protection collapsed in a 132-108 loss to the Suns on Tuesday at Mortgage Matchup Heart, giving up a season-high area aim share (59%) and tying their mark for many factors allowed this season. Led by a mixed 17-for-29 capturing from star guard Devin Booker (21 factors) and Dillon Brooks (25 factors), the Suns simply eclipsed the 56.5% they shot towards the Lakers on Dec. 1.
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“The theme with our workforce once more is like these younger groups that transfer, we simply cannot transfer,” mentioned coach JJ Redick, whose workforce is 1-2 towards the Suns (16-13). “So it is like we’re caught in mud.”
The Lakers (19-9) stay within the high half of the aggressive Western Convention, however with blowout losses to Atlanta, Oklahoma Metropolis and San Antonio, L.A. is clinging to a plus-1.1 in level differential. They misplaced consecutive video games for the primary time Tuesday and limped right into a marquee Christmas Day matchup towards the Houston Rockets with a large number of accidents.
Taking part in with out Luka Doncic, who’s day after day with a left leg contusion he sustained Saturday towards the Clippers, LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 factors on seven-for-14 capturing. Deandre Ayton had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double whereas Reaves got here off the bench for the primary time in two seasons and scored 17 factors with two assists and three turnovers.
Redick mentioned Reaves was not on an official minutes restriction after his weeklong absence, however that the workforce would monitor his workload “in actual time.”
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“It’s laborious for me to start out, on the rotation that Bron has, for me to remain round that 20-25 minute mark,” mentioned Reaves, who performed 21 minutes and 46 seconds. “So [coming off the bench] bought introduced up in my capturing time. I mentioned I used to be open to no matter. Positively felt bizarre coming off the bench, however it’s basketball on the finish of the day.”
Calf accidents, even probably the most minor, have been main considerations for the NBA since three stars suffered Achilles tendon tears throughout final season’s playoffs. Reaves, who carried the workforce throughout the early a part of a season that has featured harm absences from James and Doncic, led the workforce in minutes per recreation. His 775 minutes getting into Tuesday have been second-most on the workforce behind Rui Hachimura. The Japanese ahead missed his second consecutive recreation with proper groin soreness.
Lakers star Lebron James places up a shot towards the Suns on Tuesday night time. James completed with 23 factors. (Rick Scuteri / Related Press)
When requested whether or not Reaves wanted a bodily reset after carrying such a big load, Redick admitted a break might have been needed.
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Reaves seemed out of kinds when he entered with 5:23 remaining within the first quarter. He fumbled the handoff on his first contact coming off a display screen. When he tried to string bounce passes by way of tiny home windows, the ball was kicked away or deflected. He bought attacked on protection and gave up consecutive driving layups to Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea.
Bouyea had 14 factors off the bench, together with a layup over Marcus Sensible, who failed to attract a cost name, within the third quarter. Whereas Sensible laid in the important thing interesting to officers, Bouyea didn’t hesitate to leap over the Lakers’ guard and rating. The Lakers fell behind by as many as 29 within the third quarter, and Redick quietly waved the white flag with 5:22 remaining within the third when he put reserve ahead Maxi Kleber and rookie Adou Thiero onto the ground.
The Phoenix crowd began to file out in bunches with seven minutes remaining when the lead reached 30.
Even courtside seats have been empty within the ultimate minutes. Brooks took benefit, sitting in a courtside seat on the baseline as Thiero stepped to the free throw line with 1:16 remaining. Brooks waved his arms as a distraction. Thiero break up his two pictures.
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And many others.
Heart Jaxson Hayes left the sport with left ankle soreness within the second quarter and didn’t return.. Redick mentioned it was an aggravation of a earlier harm suffered final week.
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
