Austin Reaves was frustrated after the loss.
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost three games in a row after falling in a nail-biting matchup to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday and it seems like the tension is boiling over for the Lakers.
Losing to the Suns on Thursday came with a number of factors that compounds the Lakers' frustration. Not only is it their third-straight loss, not only was it against team that they've had a number of heated battles with over the course of the season, but it was a back-and-forth game that the Lakers had a chance to win at the very end.
The Lakers and Suns were tied at halftime after trading exact scores in the first two quarters. There was more of that in the third-quarter when both teams scored exactly 31 points, bringing it all down to the fourth.
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) celebrates with forward Rasheer Fleming (20) against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesFalling Short in the Clutch
The Suns grabbed a huge advantage early in the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run to go up 96-86, but the Lakers at that point weren't deterred.
Powered by Luka Doncic, the Lakers climbed all the way back and tied the Suns at 108 with just over a minute to go and with the game entering crunch time it looked like anyone's game.
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) passes the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5), forward Jake LaRavia (12) and guard Austin Reaves (15) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesRoyce O'Neale hit a huge three pointer with just 1.7 seconds left in the game to put the Suns ahead 113-110, but the Lakers still had one more possession to at least tie the game and send it into overtime.
With their last shot of the game, the ball found it's way to Austin Reaves, who finished the game with 14 points. Hu pulled up for the three that would have saved the game for the lakers, but fell short, and the game went to the Suns.
Reaves' Response
No one was more frustrated after the game than Reaves. It was written on his face in his postgame interview and he kept his answers short.
When was asked what the Lakers needed to do to adjust and come out the victor in situations like Thursday night's game, he had a direct answer.
"Watch film. Be better," Reaves said (via Spectrum SportsNet). "Control the very controllable things that they're doing out there. You've got to move on and be better out there."
On to the Next
It may be a bare bones answer, but it's also one with a lot of truth to it. The Lakers have the talent on their roster to come out ahead in clutch games and they've proved it before.
The Lakers have the best winning percentage in the clutch across the NBA with a 16-5 record, and their major failure on Thursday was just not putting those skills to work early enough.
The best thing to do now is move on and that's certainly something that Reaves wants to do.