The Phoenix Suns faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, and despite leading by 22 points, they ended up losing 123-116.
Game Analysis:
After the game, Kevin Durant spoke to reporters about what went wrong. He mentioned that fouling too much and not taking care of the ball were key reasons for their loss. “In the second and third quarters, we just gave them momentum back more than anything,” Durant explained. The Lakers capitalized on free throws and turnovers, which allowed them to come back into the game.
“We got to do a better job of not fouling,” Durant emphasized. The Suns committed 26 fouls throughout the game and had eight turnovers in the second quarter alone, giving up 14 points to the Lakers.
"We got to do a better job of not fouling. Then we turned that ball over a lot in that 2nd quarter, we gave them momentum."
Kevin Durant as Suns blew 22-point 1st half lead in loss to Lakers.
26 fouls for the game. 8 turnovers in 2nd quarter that led to 14 Lakers points. #Suns
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin)
Looking Ahead:
Losing early in the season isn’t disastrous, but it does show Phoenix has some work to do if they want to be serious contenders in their conference this year. With stars like Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker on their roster, they can’t afford these kinds of mistakes becoming a habit.
Fans believe it’s crucial for them to fix these issues soon.
Luckily for Phoenix, their mistakes are fixable. They have strong defensive players who can stay disciplined around the paint and skilled ball handlers who can make smarter plays. Coach Mike Budenholzer will likely focus on improving decision-making under pressure after seeing how the Lakers sped up their play.
Durant’s criticism is valid; holding themselves accountable is essential if they aim high this season. While losing to a rival like the Lakers stings , with 80 games left in regular-season play, there’s ample time for improvement and redemption.
