LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Lakers lost their fifth straight game, falling to the Phoenix Suns 119-115 on Friday, December 9.
Lou Williams scored a game-high 35 points including six 3-pointers for the Lakers, who have lost eight of their last 10 games. Williams has scored 30 or more points in three of his last four performances. Still, the former Sixth Man of the Year claimed to be more interested in winning games than scoring points.
“It feels the same as not scoring a bunch of points and losing,” Williams said after the game. “Losing is losing. We’re not in the business of moral victories. For me, it’s trying to do everything I can in my position to help us win games, and it’s still not enough.”
Julius Randle added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles. Jordan Clarkson had 14 points and three assists after being inserted in the starting lineup for the third time this season.
Eric Bledsoe led Phoenix with a team high 30 points and nine assists. Devon Booker had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists; Leandro Barbosa added 21 points and four assists off the bench; Alex Len contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Bledsoe said that his scoring effort was necessary for the Suns, who snapped a three game losing streak with the victory.
“My team needed it,” Bledsoe said. “We had lost a couple of bad ones in a row, but this was one of the best wins we’ve had all season.”
Phoenix is now 7-16 on the season, tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for 12th in the Western Conference. The Suns will host a tie-breaker for the two teams when they play on Sunday, December 11.
The Lakers are now 10-15 overall and ninth in the Western Conference. Los Angeles will face the New York Knicks in their next game on Sunday, December 11 at Staples Center.
