Phoenix forces Luka Doncic to the worst performance of the NBA season

The The Phoenix Suns picked up one of their most important wins of the season monday night beating the Los Angeles Lakers 125–108 and end the team’s seven-game winning streak by force Luka Dončić in his excursions that affected traffic the most year. The Suns’ defensive effort swarmed the star point guard all night, disrupting the rhythm of a Lakers offense that was heavily dependent on his production early in the season.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “Doncic’s nine turnovers were a career high for the eight-year veteran. And all nine of his turnovers resulted in steals for the Suns — the most by any player in a game this season, according to ESPN Research.”

Despite the turnovers, Doncic still had a solid performance, finishing with 38 points, 11 rebounds and five assists on 15-for-26 shooting, including 3-for-8 from three. The performance continued his MVP-level start to the season, during which he averaged 35.3 points, 8.9 assists, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.8% from the field in 16 games. However, Phoenix’s aggressive defensive schemes forced him into mistakes that swung the momentum heavily in the Suns’ favor.

Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie power cut the Suns short as the defense suffocates the Lakers

Phoenix got a big offensive contribution from Dillon Brooks and Colin Gillespie. Brooks led the Suns with 33 points, two rebounds and two assists while shooting 15-for-26 from the field in 33 minutes. His physicality and shooting helped Phoenix maintain control even when the Lakers tried to make a few pushes in the second half.

Gillespie turned in one of the best performances of his young career, scoring 28 points with five assists, four rebounds and two steals. He shot 10-for-19 from the field and 8-for-14 from three, providing consistent floor spacing and secondary play in extended minutes.

The Suns also had to adjust early when Devin Booker exited after just 10 minutes with an injury. Before he left, he had 11 points, three assists and two rebounds on 4-for-7 shooting. Phoenix’s depth immediately stepped up, helping to build and maintain a comfortable lead throughout the second half.

Defensively, the Suns produced one of their most disruptive efforts of the season. Phoenix forced 22 turnovers from Los Angeles, turning them into 32 points. The Suns also recorded 16 steals, using their activity to generate easy baskets in transition. The fastbreak battle reflected the disparity in tempo: Phoenix had 28 fastbreak points compared to just two for the Lakers.

With the win, the Suns improved to 13–9 on the season and continued their momentum during a critical stretch of their four-game road trip. Phoenix will next travel to face the Houston Rockets (13–5) on Friday night at 8:00 PM ET, a matchup that will test the team’s depth and defensive versatility pending further clarity on Booker’s status.