Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, has his shot blocked by Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, center left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12), guard Austin Reaves (15) and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker dive for the loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 123-113. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives around Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives on Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 123-113. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives on Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives on Los Angeles Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 123-113. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives on Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (20) and guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) reacts after blocking a shot by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (not shown) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives on Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 123-113. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Saben Lee (38) drives past Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 123-113. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12), Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, dive for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) fouls Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) drives against Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Lakers (31-28) took a season-low eight free throw attempts, making just four of those looks, which was another season-low.
“We tried to play downhill as much as possible,” coach Darvin Ham said. “But only eight free throw attempts, I guess it wasn’t good enough. We weren’t playing as physical as we normally do, which in my mind, I thought we were.”
LeBron James, who went 1 for 4 at the charity stripe, accounted for half of the Lakers’ free throw attempts.
Anthony Davis, who entered the weekend leading the Lakers with free throw attempts with 6.9, didn’t attempt a free throw for the first time since March 10, 2023.
“We live on getting to the line,” Davis said. “We attack the basket. We try to live in the paint. Especially how much we struggle from the 3, we’re kind of up and down, so we try to live in the paint and get to the line.
“I’m not sure if it was just the refs missing it or they weren’t fouling. I felt I got fouled a couple of times. But that’s part of our identity, our DNA, is getting to the line and guys catching rhythms like that and then playing from there.”
Sunday was the 15th time the Lakers’ opponent finished with more free throws than them, with the Lakers now 6-9 in those games, and just the fifth time their opponent has 10 or more free throws than them.
The Lakers entered Sunday sixth in the NBA in free throws attempted per game (24.3) and tied for first in fewest free throws allowed (18.9).
“That’s who we are,” James said. “But a lot of people, a lot of coaches, a lot of teams are like, ‘That’s all the Lakers do is get to the free throw line.’ It’s like this narrative out there that that’s all we do is get to the free-throw line.
“I mean, we have attackers. That’s what we do. We have attackers. We shoot the ball from the perimeter but we’re not shooting 40-50 3s a game. We’re not that team. We don’t have the luxury of being that team. Working it into the paint, that’s what we’re really good at. To have eight free throw attempts is not us. I know I got hit a couple [of] times when I got to the paint [Sunday] that wasn’t called. But it is what it is.”
CASTLETON INJURED
During Sunday’s game, the team announced that two-way center Colin Castleton will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks after fracturing his right wrist.
Castleton’s injury is another hit to the Lakers’ frontcourt, which is already without Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood (left knee effusion).
The Lakers have leaned on smaller lineups recently in light of the injuries.
With the Lakers not playing again until Wednesday night against the Clippers, giving them over 72 hours to recover in light of Sunday’s early tipoff, Davis played 42 minutes against the Suns, including the entire second quarter, all but 46 seconds of the third because of bleeding on one of his hands and all but the final 53 seconds of the fourth once both teams took their main rotation players out.
Backup big man Jaxson Hayes played just six first-half minutes.
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