LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak with a 107-96 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Austin Reaves scored 28 points and Jaxson Hayes matched his season high with 19 for the Lakers, who returned from an 0-4 road trip to extend their home winning streak to seven games.
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Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko (10) has his shot blocked by Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) to score in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, third from left, sits on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, third from right, sits on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) falls to the floor after colliding with Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Lakers Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to guard Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gets a pass off in front of Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant (35) drives against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with guard Gabe Vincent (7) and center Christian Koloko (10) after a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Kevin Durant scored 21 points and Devin Booker had 19 for the 11th-place Suns, who missed a chance to gain ground on Dallas for the West's final play-in spot after the Mavericks lost at Philadelphia. Phoenix remained 1 1/2 games behind Dallas with a game in hand.
LeBron James (left groin strain) missed his fourth straight game, but coach JJ Redick said the top scorer in NBA history is “ramping up” toward a return.
Lakers starter Rui Hachimura (knee) also missed his ninth straight game, but Doncic (ankle) returned after sitting out Friday's loss in Denver, as did Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent.
Suns: A rough shooting game and their usual unimpressive defense were a bad combo. Durant and coach Mike Budenholzer also had another animated huddle exchange, this time while Phoenix was falling behind by 20 in the first quarter.
Lakers: They fell three spots in the West during their road trip, and their current stretch is brutal with seven games in 10 days, including five at home in seven days. With Doncic and Reaves healthy, they can compete until James returns.
Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 100-92 with less than two minutes left, but Finney-Smith buried a 3-pointer to seal it.
Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal went a combined 2 of 12 on 3-point attempts. Phoenix was 9 of 41 overall.
Both teams finish a back-to-back Monday. The Suns host the Raptors, and the Lakers host the Spurs.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko (10) has his shot blocked by Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) to score in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, third from left, sits on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, third from right, sits on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) falls to the floor after colliding with Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Lakers Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to guard Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gets a pass off in front of Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant (35) drives against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with guard Gabe Vincent (7) and center Christian Koloko (10) after a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)
