Luka Doncic accepted accountability for Monday night’s 125-108 defeat to the Phoenix Suns, saying, “That was my fault. No way I can have nine turnovers in the game.”
The Slovenian superstar explained that Phoenix’s defensive approach was unusual, adding, “Definitely it was different defense than other teams, kind of trying to let me go score instead of creating for others… it was kind of confusing.”
Doncic highlighted the need for greater physicality, noting, “Take care of the ball on the offensive end and be more physical on defensive end,” as Los Angeles prepares for its upcoming road trip.
He reflected on the team’s attempts to adjust midgame, saying, “We just tried to share the ball a little bit more… a lot of the offenses didn’t end in the shot because we had so many turnovers… trying some new things, but it didn’t work out.”
Monday’s loss snapped the Lakers’ seven-game winning streak and exposed fatigue from playing their third home game in four nights. Despite Doncic scoring 38 points and Austin Reaves adding 16, the team struggled to maintain consistency on both ends.
Devin Booker exited early with a groin injury, but Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added a career-high 28, hitting eight 3-pointers. Royce O’Neale contributed six points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists, helping the Suns dominate ball movement.
Phoenix shot 57 percent from the field and 44 percent from three, while the Lakers managed 51 percent overall and 39 percent from beyond the arc. The Suns also held a 33-29 edge on the boards, turning turnovers into fast-break points.
Doncic emphasized the importance of adjustments for the rest of the season, particularly as the Lakers face teams with similar pace and style, saying, “First of all, take care of the ball obviously. But then just be more physical… they make a lot of shots too, so we got to work on that too.”
Los Angeles will look to rebound on Thursday when they visit the Toronto Raptors, while Phoenix heads to Houston on Friday following their three-game winning streak snapped by the Lakers.
