Austin Reaves’ return can’t save Lakers from blowout loss to Suns
PHOENIX — Austin Reaves returned from a left calf injury that kept him sidelined for three games, but the Lakers’ second-leading scorer did nothing to address the team’s most glaring weakness.
The Lakers’ defense collapsed in a 132-108 loss to the Suns on Tuesday at the Mortgage Matchup Center, giving up a season-high field goal percentage (59%) and tying their mark for most points allowed this season. Led by a combined 17-of-29 shooting from star guard Devin Booker (21 points) and Dillon Brooks (25 points), the Suns easily eclipsed the 56.5 percent they shot against the Lakers on Dec. 1.
“The theme of our team again is like these young teams that move, we just can’t move,” said coach JJ Redick, whose team is 1-2 against the Suns (16-13). “So it’s like we’re stuck in the mud.”
The Lakers (19-9) remain in the top half of the competitive Western Conference, but with blowout losses to Atlanta, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, Los Angeles is clinging to a plus-1.1 point differential. They lost consecutive games for the first time on Tuesday and limped into a marquee Christmas Day game against the Houston Rockets with a slew of injuries.
Playing without Luka Doncic, who is dealing with day-to-day pain from a bruised left leg he suffered Saturday against the Clippers, LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points on seven-of-14 shooting. Deandre Ayton had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds while Reaves came off the bench for the first time in two seasons and scored 17 points with two assists and three turnovers.
Redick said Reaves was not on an official minutes restriction following his weeklong absence, but that the team would monitor his workload “in real time.”
“It’s hard for me to start, with the rotation that Bron has, for me to stay around that 20-25 minute mark,” said Reaves, who played 21 minutes and 46 seconds. “SO [coming off the bench] I was raised during my time on set. I said I was open to anything. It was definitely weird coming off the bench, but at the end of the day, it’s basketball.
Calf injuries, even minor ones, are a major concern for the NBA as three stars suffered torn Achilles tendons during last season’s playoffs. Reaves, who carried the team through the start of a season marred by injury absences for James and Doncic, led the team in minutes per game. His 775 minutes entering Tuesday were second on the team behind Rui Hachimura. The Japanese forward missed his second consecutive match with right groin soreness.
Lakers star Lebron James hit a shot against the Suns on Tuesday night. James finished with 23 points.
(Rick Scuteri/Associated Press)
When asked if Reaves needed a physical reset after carrying such a large load, Redick admitted a break might have been necessary.
Reaves looked out of sorts when he entered with 5:23 left in the first quarter. He missed the handoff on his first touch coming off a screen. When he tried to string bounce passes through tiny windows, the ball was pushed away or deflected. He was attacked on defense and gave up back-to-back layups to Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea.
Bouyea had 14 points off the bench, including a layup against Marcus Smart, who failed to draw a charge call, in the third quarter. While Smart put the key in his hands to attract the officials, Bouyea did not hesitate to jump over the Lakers guard and score. The Lakers fell behind as many as 29 points in the third quarter, and Redick quietly waved the white flag with 5:22 left in the third when he put reserve forward Maxi Kleber and rookie Adou Thiero on the court.
The Phoenix crowd began to gather in groups with seven minutes remaining when the lead reached 30.
Even the court seats were empty in the final minutes. Brooks took advantage, sitting in a courtside seat on the baseline as Thiero headed to the free throw line with 1:16 left. Brooks waved his arms to distract himself. Thiero shared his two shots.
Etc.
Center Jaxson Hayes left the game with left ankle soreness in the second quarter and did not return. Redick said it was an aggravation of a previous injury suffered last week.
