Anthony Davis displayed dominance on both ends of the court, yet the Lakers fell short of ending the preseason with a victory.

In their last preseason matchup, the Lakers succumbed to the Suns with a final score of 121-97. Anthony Davis showcased his elite skills by contributing 15 points and an impressive six blocks. LeBron James achieved his objective of playing in half of the preseason games, concluding the game with 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Despite the game remaining tightly contested until midway through the third quarter, both teams delved deep into their benches. The Suns’ reserves overwhelmed the Lakers, securing the win.

The Lakers concluded the preseason with a 2-4 record and are set to kick off their regular season campaign on the road in Denver on Tuesday.

Los Angeles began the game with a strong 10-2 run, featuring a spectacular Davis alley-oop, a James layup over Kevin Durant, and an Austin Reaves three-pointer. They combined this offensive momentum with Davis’s dominant defense to establish an early lead. Anthony Davis recorded five blocks in the first quarter alone, but after the Suns closed out the first with an 18-6 run, the Lakers found themselves trailing by four.

Jaxson Hayes and Max Christie joined the starters to start the second quarter. Hayes executed a powerful dunk and a well-executed give-and-go play with James, resulting in an easy finish. Throughout the preseason, Hayes exhibited excellent shooting, making 12 out of 15 field goal attempts.

Kevin Durant’s night concluded in the first half, during which he led Phoenix with 21 points in just 17 minutes. The Lakers continued playing with their starters in the third quarter until the 6:39 mark, at which point they substituted all five starters simultaneously, a strategy rarely seen in the regular season.

This dramatic change had consequences on the court as Phoenix scored six consecutive points, prompting head coach Darvin Ham to call a timeout to break their momentum. The Lakers struggled throughout the quarter, being outscored 35-15 and entering the fourth quarter trailing by 16 points.

As this was the last preseason game for both teams, the benches were cleared in the fourth quarter, and it became a matter of running out the clock while avoiding injuries. The Lakers accomplished this while the Suns maintained control until the final buzzer.

Key Takeaways:
With the exception of Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent’s injuries, the Lakers emerged from the preseason in relatively good health. The team showed promise in terms of improved three-point shooting and displayed excellent depth. Anthony Davis and LeBron James are expected to be in good form when the regular season commences, which is the most important outcome.

To catch the Lakers’ opening game against the Nuggets on the road on Tuesday, tune in to TNT at 4:30 p.m. PT.