Luka Doncic tallied 25 points in his preseason debut, but the Los Angeles Lakers fell 113-104 to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The Suns improved to 3-1 in preseason play, while the Lakers dropped to 1-3.
Doncic played 22 minutes, shooting 7-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and added seven rebounds and four assists. Austin Reaves matched Doncic’s scoring with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting and contributed four rebounds and two assists. Bronny James logged 22 minutes off the bench, scoring four points with two rebounds and a block.
Deandre Ayton recorded a team-high 13 rebounds and 10 points in 26 minutes for the Lakers. Marcus Smart had a quiet night with no points in 20 minutes but contributed an assist and a steal as a starter. Dalton Knecht scored five points, and Christian Koloko added seven points in limited action.
For the Suns, Jared Butler led all scorers with 35 points, shooting 14-of-25 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range, with nine assists. Jordan Goodwin contributed 24 points, while Khaman Maluach added 17 points and eight rebounds. Isaiah Livers came off the bench to score seven points and provide five rebounds.
The Suns started the game with a 22-29 deficit after the first quarter but surged in the third, outscoring Los Angeles 33-17 to seize control. Phoenix shot 46.1% overall and 38.1% from three-point range, forcing 27 turnovers by the Lakers, who committed 18 miscues themselves.
Early in the game, Doncic opened the scoring with a floating jumper and connected on a three-pointer, helping Los Angeles briefly lead 9-7. Reaves contributed key baskets, including multiple three-pointers, but Phoenix’s balanced attack, led by Butler, eventually tilted the game in their favor.
Despite the loss, the Lakers saw promising contributions from their young players, including Jake LaRavia’s 10 points and solid defensive plays from Koloko. The Suns’ bench depth also showed through Livers, CJ Huntley, and Goodwin, keeping the starters fresh and maintaining a steady offensive flow.
