Game ID: 22500855
Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 22 27 31 33 113LAL 27 22 31 30 110
LAL @ PHX ScoutingLAL @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Allen missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 19 min since (68% of 27)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 20 min since (168% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/21 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 33 min (117% of 28)
BACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 24 min since (72% of 34)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 21 min since (78% of 27)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 16 min since (135% of 12)
NEW Goodwin 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bouyea 13 to 18 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 2/22 · back-to-backBACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 24 min since (72% of 34)
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 33 min since (117% of 28)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 16 min since (135% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 33 min since (117% of 28)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 18 min since (152% of 12)
NEW Coffey 12 to 17 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 2/21, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 29 min since (101% of 28)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 19 min since (158% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/03 · 4 days' restOUT Booker missed 4 since 2/21, returns tonight: 31 min (92% of 34)
OUT Brooks missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 29 min since (104% of 28)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 19 min over the last 4
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/03 after 4, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 28 min since (100% of 28)
NEW Gillespie 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Bouyea missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 2 since 3/03, returns tonight: 0 min (0% of 11)
BACK Booker back 3/03 after 4, 32 min since (93% of 34)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 18 min over the last 5
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Bouyea missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Huntley missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/03 after 4, 33 min since (97% of 34)
BACK Highsmith back 3/06 after 2, 0 min since (0% of 11)
NEW Ighodaro 22 to 29 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Dončić missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 25 min since (71% of 35)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (157% of 11)
LAL availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Dončić missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 38 min (106% of 36)
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 2/10, returns tonight: 28 min (100% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (157% of 11)
NEW Kleber 10 to 17 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 38 min since (106% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (100% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (98% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 26 min since (95% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (103% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 27 min since (98% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/01 · back-to-backOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/26, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 30)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 25 min since (93% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 17)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 20 min since (69% of 30)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 111, shooting 38 percent and 30 from three, 12 free throws a game; Green at 17 and Gillespie at 13 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Brooks (2 straight), Goodwin (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 22 free throws a game to Phoenix's 12 and the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Phoenix's 30. Call it Phoenix 112, the Lakers 111, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/19 @ SAS 94-121 — PHX notes
PHX lost 94-121. PHX took 18 more shots (105 to 87), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to SAS's 52%, 12 of 42 from three, and got to the line 6 times to SAS's 20. Green led with 26 (11 of 23, 4 of 9 from three); Williams added 11, Goodwin 10. Q4 was theirs, 23-23, but the other 3 periods went 98-71 against them. Goodwin's -27 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/21 vs ORL 113-110 — PHX notes
PHX won 113-110 in 2 overtimes. PHX shot 34% (40 of 117) to ORL's 43%, 16 of 55 from three. PHX turned it over 8 times to ORL's 16. The glass went 65-53 for them. Allen led with 27 (8 of 22, 4 of 14 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Gillespie added 19, Goodwin 17. The hinge was Q3, 34-22: PHX came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 4. PHX trailed 43-51 at the half and won the second half 70-59.
2/22 vs POR 77-92 — PHX notes
PHX lost 77-92. PHX shot 36% (31 of 85) to POR's 47%, 9 of 35 from three. Gillespie led with 18 (7 of 14, 4 of 8 from three); Green added 13. Q1 was theirs, 20-20, but the other 3 periods went 72-57 against them. Dunn's -18 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 vs BOS 81-97 — PHX notes
PHX lost 81-97. PHX shot 37% (29 of 79) to BOS's 40%, 12 of 36 from three. The glass went 34-61 against them. Gillespie led with 15 (6 of 11, 3 of 6 from three); Allen added 14, Green 13. Q4 was theirs, 24-17, the deficit cut from 23 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 80-57 against them. They led by as many as 11. Green's -33 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 vs LAL 113-110 — PHX notes
PHX won 113-110. PHX shot 46% (40 of 87) to LAL's 51%, 22 of 50 from three, and got to the line 14 times to LAL's 26. Allen led with 28 (9 of 24, 6 of 16 from three); Gillespie added 21, O'Neale 13. The hinge was Q2, 27-22: PHX came in trailing by 5 and left it level. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/03 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Westbrook at 17 and Achiuwa at 16 a game. Without Murray (2 straight), LaVine (9 straight), Hunter (9 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 106, shooting 38 percent and 33 from three, 13 free throws a game; Allen at 23 and Gillespie at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Booker (4 straight), Brooks (3 straight), Goodwin (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 106 a night to Sacramento's 126 and the line, where Sacramento takes 22 free throws a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Sacramento 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/05 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 102, shooting 40 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Allen at 22 and Gillespie at 18 a game. Without Brooks (4 straight), Goodwin (4 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Sexton at 14 a game. Without Simons (5 straight), Smith (4 straight), Williams (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 102 a night to Chicago's 114 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 19 times a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Phoenix 113, Chicago 108.
3/06 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 101, shooting 41 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Allen at 20 and Gillespie at 15 a game. Without Brooks (5 straight), Goodwin (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bey at 24 and Murphy III at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Poole (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 119 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 15. Call it Phoenix 113, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/08 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Allen at 19 a game. Without Brooks (6 straight), Williams (2 straight), Goodwin (6 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Miller at 23 and Knueppel at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Salaün (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-7 a night and Phoenix minus-2 and the arc, Charlotte at 40 percent from three to Phoenix's 36. Call it Charlotte 112, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/12 vs DAL 124-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 124-104. LAL shot 56% (48 of 86) to DAL's 49%, 10 of 31 from three. The glass went 44-28 for them. L. James led with 28 (10 of 20, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Hachimura added 21, Reaves 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-19: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/20 vs LAC 125-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 125-122. LAL shot 52% (44 of 85) to LAC's 55%, 17 of 31 from three. The glass went 32-42 against them. Dončić led with 38 (11 of 25, 8 of 14 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Reaves added 29, James 13. The hinge was Q1, 41-30: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
2/22 vs BOS 89-111 — LAL notes
LAL lost 89-111. LAL shot 39% (34 of 87) to BOS's 48%, 9 of 30 from three. LAL turned it over 8 times to BOS's 14. The glass went 39-50 against them. Dončić led with 25 (9 of 22, 4 of 7 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); James added 20, Reaves 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-28, but the other 3 periods went 83-61 against them. Dončić's -21 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 vs ORL 109-110 — LAL notes
LAL lost 109-110. LAL shot 48% (40 of 83) to ORL's 46%, 9 of 29 from three. Dončić led with 22 (8 of 24, 2 of 10 from three, 4 of 9 at the line); Ayton added 21, James 21. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 85-76 against them. They led by as many as 12. Vanderbilt's -6 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 @ PHX 110-113 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-113. LAL shot 51% (38 of 75) to PHX's 46%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 26 times to PHX's 14 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. Dončić led with 41 (12 of 21, 6 of 11 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); James added 15, Reaves 14. Q1 was theirs, 27-22, but the other 3 periods went 91-83 against them. They led by as many as 13. Ayton's -24 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Melton at 21 and Moody at 18 a game. Without Ste. Curry (9 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight), Williams (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Golden State 117, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/01 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 19 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Hachimura (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; Achiuwa at 17 and Raynaud at 15 a game. Without LaVine (8 straight), Hunter (8 straight), Cardwell (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 29 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 111 a night to Sacramento's 127. Call it the Lakers 119, Sacramento 113.
3/03 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Bey at 24 and Williamson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-6 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 10. Call it the Lakers 118, New Orleans 113.
3/05 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (10 straight), Gordon (16 straight), Jones (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 106 a night to Denver's 116 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Denver's 34. Call it Denver 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXAC A. Coffey
CG C. Gillespie
GA G. Allen
JB J. Bouyea
JG J. Green
MW M. Williams
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RF R. Fleming
RO R. O'Neale
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
PHX/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Royce O'Neale hits last-second 3 to lift short-handed Suns over Lakers, 113-110
PHOENIX -- — Royce O'Neale made a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining, Grayson Allen scored 28 points and the short-handed Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 on Thursday night after blowing a late 12-point lead.
Allen drove into the lane on the Suns' final possession before finding Collin Gillespie in the corner. Gillespie quickly swung the ball to an open O'Neale.
L.A.'s Austin Reaves missed an open corner 3 at the buzzer. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 41 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Reaves' miss capped a thrilling final few minutes.
The Lakers bounced back from a 12-point deficit with 6:28 left to tie it at 108 on Reaves' 3-pointer with a minute to go. O'Neale responded with a layup after an offensive rebound to take a 110-108, but LeBron James had a tip-in on the ensuing possession to tie it at 110 with 22.7 seconds left.
Phoenix bounced back from a 13-point deficit early in the third quarter to tie it at 80 going into the fourth. Allen scored 16 points in the third, hitting four 3-pointers.
Gillespie made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points. The Suns shot 22 of 50 (44%) from 3-point range.
The Lakers opened the second half on a 11-0 run for a 60-49 advantage, capped by DeAndre Ayton's alley-oop dunk on a nice pass from Doncic.
The Suns improved to 2/3 since the All-Star break. Phoenix was playing without its top two scorers — All-Star guard Devin Booker (hip strain) and forward Dillon Brooks (fractured hand).
The Booker-Brooks duo is averaging roughly 45 points per game and the Suns are struggling to find scoring options without them. It was the first time the team topped 100 points in regulation over the past five games.
Up next Lakers: At Golden State on Saturday night.