On March 17, Beijing time, the Lakers defeated the Suns 107-96 at home, ending a four-game losing streak. James, who was recovering from injury, came to the sidelines to watch the game, Doncic contributed 33 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, Reaves scored 28 points, and the Lakers blew up the Suns in the first quarter, leading by up to 20 points, and the Suns narrowed the gap to single digits in the second half, or lost to the Lakers. The Suns had a terrible three-point shooting performance, shooting 9-of-41. Durant scored 21 points, and Beal retired due to left hamstring soreness.

Statistics

Suns: Durant 21 points and 9 rebounds, Booker 19 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists, Beal 4 points and 2 rebounds (injury), Richards 11 points and 6 rebounds, Royce O'Neal 10 points and 5 rebounds, Dunn 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals, Jones 8 points and 5 assists

Lakers: Doncic 33 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, Reaves 28 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists, Hayes 19 points and 6 rebounds, Vincent 9 points, Finney-Smith 10 points and 7 rebounds

The star of the game

Doncic played well and led the team to defeat the Suns and end the Lakers' four-game losing streak.

Game recap

In the first quarter, Goodwin scored a basket, Hayes scored 2+1, Reaves also scored a layup, and the Lakers started a 7-0 game. Dunn hit a three-pointer to make the first shot for the Suns. Beal made a mid-range shot, Durant dunked, and the Suns overtook the Lakers. Reaves hit a three-point shot, Hayes scored two goals in a row, Doncic turned on the offensive mode, made free throws, and scored 13 points in a row to break the Suns' defense. Vincent also hit a three-pointer, and the Lakers exploded into a 23-2 offensive surge. After Durant hit two free throws, the Suns trailed by 16 points. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led the Suns 31-15, and Doncic scored 13 points in a single quarter.

In the second quarter, Royce O'Neale scored two consecutive goals, Jones also scored five points in a row, and the Suns narrowed the gap. Knecht and Vincent responded with three points, and Reaves scored five straight points to give the Lakers an 18-point lead. Beal dunked, Booker scored 2+1, Doncic scored 4 points in a row, and assisted Hayes to catch a dunk. Richards pressed the buzzer to dunk and the Lakers led the Suns 54-37 at halftime. The Lakers had three players in double figures in the first half, Doncic had 17 points, four rebounds and six assists, and Reaves and Hayes each scored 13 points. The Suns didn't have a double-double, and Booker scored a team-high nine points. The Suns made 2-of-18 three-pointers in the first half.

The Suns adjusted their starting line-up, with Gillespie replacing Beal, who retired with a sore left hamstring. Hayes dunked in the air, Durant scored 5 points in a row, and Richards scored 2+1. Doncic drew three fouls in a row in 46 seconds, and Durant and Royce O'Neal hit back-to-back three-pointers as the Suns narrowed the gap to eight points. Vincent and Reeves also hit back-to-back three-pointers. Durant scored 2+1 and scored 7 points in a row. Reaves hit a layup, and Doncic was dissatisfied with the referee's decision and received a technical foul. At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers led the Suns 83-71. Durant scored 15 points in the first quarter.

In the last quarter, Reaves threw and hit, Dunn steals and dunks, Jones hits a three-point shot, and Reeves makes it 3+1. Gillespie and Finney-Smith exchanged three-pointers. Cody Martin made a basket to make it 2+1, and Doncic scored 5 points in a row. Durant hit a mid-range shot, Booker dunked, and Dunn scored six straight points to put the Suns eight points behind. Finney-Smith hit a three-pointer, Booker hit a layup, and Finney-Smith scored on a layup. In the end, the Lakers defeated the Suns at home, ending a four-game losing streak.

Both sides start

Suns: Booker, Beal, Dunn, Durant, Richards

Lakers: Doncic, Reaves, Goodwin, Finney-Smith, Hayes