Kobe Bryant returned after missing three games, but the Los Angeles Lakers still ended up losing to the Phoenix Suns 116-107 on Sunday at Staples Center.
Bryant tallied 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists, but the Suns' guard rotation was simply too much for the Lakers, and even the 19-year veteran admitted that he was overwhelmed.
Goran Dragic spearheaded the Suns' offensive attack as he finished with 24 points, while Eric Bledsoe had an excellent all-around contribution with 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Isaiah Thomas, the other part of their vaunted three-guard combination, came off the bench to score 15 points in 25 minutes, while Markief Morris and P.J. Tucker added 12 points apiece for the Suns, who extended their winning streak to six games and solidified their grip on the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.
"They've got one on the left, one on the right and one in the middle," Bryant said of the Suns' guard combination of Dragic, Bledsoe and Thomas. "You can't cover them all."
The Lakers, who are in 14th place in the Western Conference standings with their 9-22 record, showed some life down the stretch as they brought the lead down to one point with 2:20 left to play in the game.
However, the Suns answered with a 10-2 run to seal their 18th win of the season in 32 games, and Lakers coach Byron Scott admitted after the game that they just could not stop the Suns' dynamic offense in the final two minutes.
"We couldn't get a stop, and when we got a stop, they got an offensive rebound," Scott said. "I think that's the most disheartening thing. We were right there again. Played hard, but the last couple of minutes is where we seem to lose it."
Watch the highlights of the Suns' 116-107 win over the Lakers below.
Complete NBA Scores - December 28, 2015
- Detroit Pistons 103 - 80 Cleveland Cavaliers
- Houston Rockets 106 - 110 San Antonio Spurs
- Oklahoma City Thunder 107 - 112 Dallas Mavericks
- New York Knicks 79 - 101 Portland Trail Blazers
- Toronto Raptors 116 - 102 Denver Nuggets
- Phoenix Suns 116 - 107 Los Angeles Lakers
