Suns roll past Lakers 125-108 as turnovers and fast break woes end L.A.’s winning streak

LOS ANGELES — The Phoenix Suns spoiled the Los Angeles Lakers’ momentum and snapped their seven-game winning streak with a convincing 125-108 win Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, overwhelming L.A. with defensive pressure, speed and physicality in a game where nothing seemed to click for the home team.

Phoenix seized control in the second quarter and never let go, turning 22 Lakers turnovers into transition scoring and fueling a 28-2 fast-break advantage that set the tone. The Suns’ defensive pressure disrupted the Lakers’ rhythm all night, forcing rushed possessions and capitalizing on nearly every mistake.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33 points, including 23 in the first half as he ignited Phoenix early and thrived in the matchup with LeBron James. Collin Gillespie added a career-high 28 points and knocked down eight 3-pointers, taking over in the second half after Phoenix lost star guard Devin Booker to a groin injury late in the first quarter. Booker finished with 11 points in under 10 minutes before exiting.

Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott credited the team’s pace and commitment on both ends.

“If you play extremely hard and try to pressure, force turnovers and get extra possessions, then play fast, good things happen,” Ott said. “Tonight was a great effort across the board.”

The Lakers never found their footing offensively despite Luka Dončić’s 38-point, 11-rebound night. James finished with 10 points in 27 quiet minutes. Los Angeles struggled to generate clean looks, and when it did, many chances slipped away because of hesitation, poor spacing or Phoenix’s size around the rim.

A frustrated Dončić took blame afterward, pointing to his nine turnovers as a turning point.

“There’s no way I can have nine turnovers,” he said. “Their defense was different. They were kind of letting me score instead of creating for others, and it was confusing. But you just can’t have that.”

James echoed the theme.

“Turnovers, transition points,” James said. “Against a disruptive defense like that, you can’t give them easy buckets. Most of our turnovers were basically pick-sixes.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick called the performance “weird” and said the team never matched Phoenix’s physicality or urgency.

“If you don't play hard against that team, you’re going to get exposed,” Redick said. “At no point tonight did we match their physicality. The basketball gods reward effort, and they punish you when you don’t.”

Despite trailing by double digits most of the second half, the Lakers never mounted a serious comeback. Phoenix kept spacing the floor, sharing the ball — finishing with 35 assists — and attacking a Lakers defense that looked a step slow after playing three games in four nights.

Brooks, who has a history of spirited battles with James, relished the moment.

“I’m a competitor,” he said. “I don’t bow down. That either excites him or aggravates him, but I’m always going to compete.”

The Lakers now head into a road trip searching for sharper execution and renewed focus, while the Suns leave Los Angeles encouraged by a dominant win and a breakout night from unexpected sources.

“We stuck to who we are,” Ott said. “And tonight, that was enough.”