Overview
- Phoenix beat Los Angeles 132-108, dropping the Lakers to 19-9 and handing them consecutive defeats for the first time this year.
- The Suns shot 58.8% from the field, piled up 45 third‑quarter points and 62 in the paint, exposing the Lakers’ ball containment and help defense.
- Austin Reaves returned from a left calf strain, came off the bench with monitored minutes, and logged 17 points in his first game since Dec. 10.
- Head coach JJ Redick has been publicly backing Reaves’ All‑Star case during a career-best start in which he entered the night averaging 27.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds.
- Luka Dončić sat with a lower‑left leg contusion and remains day-to-day with optimism he could return on Christmas, while Jaxson Hayes exited with an ankle issue and did not return.