Lakers fall to Suns as Russell Westbrook struggles

LOS ANGELES — For a 32-year-old connected a seasoned team, the increasing pains are achingly apparent.

Through a nighttime with a fistful of highs for the Lakers, Russell Westbrook is inactive searching — for his fit, his changeable and his rhythm. A fig of stat lines popular retired from the Lakers’ 123-94 nonaccomplishment to the Phoenix Suns — dropping them to 0-4 this preseason — but nary moreso than Westbrook’s statline: 8 points, 3 for 12 shooting and 9 turnovers.

The wins and losses don’t substance yet for the Lakers, but the show of the nine-time All-Star and erstwhile MVP has yet to adhd momentum to the Lakers’ preseason hype arsenic the Western Conference favorites. In 2 outings truthful far, Westbrook has much turnovers (15) than points (10).

Westbrook batted backmost concerns, calling the fixes “very easy” and being grateful that truthful far, the stats don’t count.

“Guys getting utilized to my speed, my pace, my timing, wherever I’m astatine connected the floor. Me conscionable getting my timing backmost connected passing,” helium said. “And not disquieted astir it: I’d alternatively get them retired now.”

Westbrook’s vexation was evident connected a fig of plays: blistering pick-and-roll passes that ricocheted from his teammates fingers and retired of bounds; lay-ups that wouldn’t rotation in; jumpers that caromed disconnected the rim. Ironically, helium was tenable palmy beyond the arc (2 for 5) which is the country wherever helium often receives the astir disapproval of his game.

But arsenic Westbrook traveled for his eighth turnover of the game, adjacent helium shook his head. While the Lakers person raved astir his practices and intensity, the results connected the tribunal person yet to amusement themselves. But manager Frank Vogel says Westbrook’s main misdeed truthful acold has been being excessively anxious to stock the ball, which the Lakers are consenting to unrecorded with aboriginal successful the chemistry-building process.

“He’s trying hard to administer to get his teammates involved, to play other walk hoops similar we’re asking him to,” Vogel said. “New acceptable of teammates, caller system, it’s going to instrumentality immoderate time, not disquieted astir it.”

The Lakers inactive person not deployed their 3 stars together: LeBron James took the evening disconnected aft watching his Cleveland Browns play the Chargers astatine SoFi Stadium and conducting a pregame workout. Coach Frank Vogel said James has mentioned to him that helium wants to play successful the last 2 preseason games astatine location against Golden State and connected the roadworthy successful Sacramento.

Anthony Davis did 1 amended than Vogel, acknowledging that the All-Star trio plans to play each unneurotic Tuesday against Golden State, perchance with Davis astatine center.

“It’ll beryllium a full antithetic communicative travel Tuesday,” Davis said.

Other Lakers had affirmative returns successful the team’s latest exhibition, astir notably Davis. Just 5 for 12 from the field, Davis got to the escaped propulsion enactment (8 for 11) and added 6 assists to spell with 19 points, his precocious people of the preseason. Davis was connected the receiving extremity of the item of the games truthful far, slamming down a one-handed dunk successful the 2nd 4th disconnected a lob from Kent Bazemore.

Carmelo Anthony besides breathed beingness into the gathering with a sizzling 5 for 7 heavy shooting night, finishing with 17 points. Along with the Lakers’ salty 2nd 4th defense, helium helped spark a 14-0 tally that concisely enactment the squad successful the Sun’s stratosphere. Coming disconnected a double-double against the Warriors connected Friday, Dwight Howard played 12 minutes showcasing energetic defense, and Bazemore was the Lakers’ astir dynamic perimeter defender prodding distant 4 steals.

But offensively, the Lakers ne'er got it going. Westbrook’s giveaways contributed to an tremendous disparity connected points disconnected of turnovers: The Suns won that class 32-16. The Lakers besides were severely outscored successful the paint, struggling to find a accordant wrong presence.

Six Suns finished successful treble figures, led by Chris Paul’s 15 points.

Monk to miss remainder of preseason; Horton-Tucker nether evaluation

While the Lakers’ property has fixed fans anxiousness astir imaginable injuries, it’s the team’s younger players who person been struck recently.

The squad announced Saturday evening that Malik Monk (groin strain) and Talen Horton-Tucker (sprained close thumb) would miss Sunday’s crippled against Phoenix. While the squad is inactive evaluating the grade of Horton-Tucker’s injury, Monk volition miss astatine slightest a week, manager Frank Vogel said, meaning helium won’t beryllium disposable for the last 3 games of the preseason.

Monk averaged 12.7 points successful his 3 preseason appearances, and changeable 47.1 percent from 3-point range. The 23-year-old is attempting to compression his mode into the Lakers’ tightest presumption conflict against veterans similar Kent Bazemore and Wayne Ellington. But Vogel said that the erstwhile lottery prime of the Charlotte Hornets has fixed him thing to deliberation about.

“The tricky happening astir our roster is we’ve got a batch of guys that I cognize and I spot to beryllium rotational guys,” helium said. “Does that mean each feline is gonna play each night? No it doesn’t. But Malik is decidedly idiosyncratic that I spot to beryllium portion of that rotation, and consciousness assured that helium tin assistance america triumph games.””