The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns, 120-101, to drop to 2-9 on the season in a game where Brandon Knight recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds.
With Kobe Bryant resting back in Los Angeles, Metta World Peace stepped into the starting lineup and immediately made his first four shots. World Peace had previously failed to make a single basket in his last two games, but the 36-year-old had no trouble putting the ball in the hoop early in Phoenix. The Lakers led by as many as five points in the first quarter, but Phoenix took a three-point lead before the end of the first first period.
As has happened far too often recently, the Lakers failed to grab rebounds on the defensive glass, and the Suns pulled down 11 offensive board by the halftime break.
For Phoenix, Knight and Eric Bledsoe combined for 28 points in the first half, which helped the home team establish a four-point lead at the break. That lead would have been greater had Lou Williams not found his touch in the second quarter. Williams made four of his five shots in the quarter. Also, Nick Young continued to shoot well and hit three of his five shots in the second quarter.
In the third period, Bledsoe and Knight continued to attack and combined for another 13 points, which helped the Suns to an 80-75 entering the final period. The young Lakers had a chance to steal a game on the road and possibly start a winning streak, which would be the first of the year.
A minute and a half later, the Lakers trailed by 11 points. With just under six minutes to play, the visitors trailed by 17 points and a comeback on the second night of a back-to-back seemed less thank likely. Jordan Clarkson, who had a decent outing on the night with 20 points, helped give the Lakers a chance at cutting the lead to single digits. Phoenix, though, continued to score with ease.
With two minutes remaining in the ball game, the Lakers trailed by 18 points. LA would fall down by 21 points before the finall buzzer ended their mistery with a final count of 120-101.
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Next the Lakers host the Toronto Raptors on Friday at Staples Center. Bryant expects to be back for that game.
Notes: The Lakers committed 17 turnovers and gave up 18 offensive rebounds.
