Overview
- The Lakers fell 113-110 in Phoenix on Royce O’Neale’s 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left after Austin Reaves’ corner look at the horn rimmed out, despite Luka Doncic scoring 41.
- With Rui Hachimura out sick, Jaxson Hayes returned from an ankle issue, logged 21 minutes and closed the final 7:43 over Deandre Ayton, who finished with two points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.
- The loss was Los Angeles’ third straight and fifth in seven games, leaving the team 34-24 in sixth place and only one game ahead of the Suns, who hit 22 threes while shorthanded.
- Ayton’s usage remains a flashpoint after he was heard saying, “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela. I’m not no Clint Capela,” following the prior one-point loss to Orlando, as an anonymous West scout’s “mostly underachieved” assessment also circulated.
- Ayton holds an $8.1 million player option this offseason, and ESPN analysis has flagged center as a summer priority for the Lakers as the franchise weighs frontcourt decisions.