EXTENDED LAKERS at SUNS FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS February 26 2026

Another beautiful night here in downtown Phoenix. You're watching me inside the Mortgage Matchup Center at Chowdhury Downs, the Lakers and the Suns. Let's take a look at our hero brand starting lineups. First off, the visiting Lakers, they come in 34 and 23, led by Luka Dojic, Austin Reeves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and the former Suns big man, DeAndre Haight. For the Suns, it'll be Colin Gillespie, Jalen Green, Ryan Dunn, Royce O'Neal and Mark Williams. Now, you know, obviously hadn't played a lot and I think still trying to get his legs up under him. I like to think against this Laker team that's played really some weak defense all year that he can get it going. But it's clear what the intent was. Got Austin Reeves trying to chip Jalen Green sets up Royce O'Neal. Squares, fires and splashdown as he got the fly-by on James. And they'll be able to against this Laker team. Dojic trying to drive there on Dunn. Against Orlando, in fact, he said maybe afterwards, he was 4-14 in that second half. And Green able to get to the baseline. Giving it off to LeBron James for potential game winner. I think everybody that was watching on TV that was in that arena, even his teammates, they knew he would, they thought he would shoot that one. Dojic's rebound on the miss. Quick outlet up the floor now to Reeves. And Reeves promptly dribbles it off his foot for a Laker turnover. Green driving, sneaks inside. Stretches with a three-point shot. That's why they went and made the trade for Luke Kennard. To Mark Williams to slam it down. Dunn, right into the waistband of Dojic. Poked it away, but into the hands of Smart. And Dojic leans inside. Will get an and one. Collin on the drive. Dojic running Dunn off the three-point line. For the shot clock, inside, Dunn. Beautiful feed. Again, dribble penetration by Royce O'Neal. Dunn's have won two of the three meetings thus far. Lesby off the inbounds. Sets up Dunn for the corner look. Knocks it down. I think that was a decent analogy, K. Ray. You understood it. Yeah, I'm with you. The Lesby, arching three over the outstretched hand to De'Andre Ayton. Williams across the lane with the rebound. Green, on that angle there for a Phoenix turnover. Up the floor to James. And James went easy too. The newest member, Luke Kennard, off the bench. Jake LaRavia getting ready to check in next dead ball opportunity. Suns by five. Dojic on the step back. Push the right buttons with this team. This is just the 14th game this season that the Lakers' big trio has been together as Dojic, a perfect four for four now. Up the floor now to Kennard. An 8-0 Laker run. Kennard drives the lane. Squares, fires. Off the mark, back tap. Fleming, talented Suns rookie, got a piece. Inside, Oso with a big old finish. Did not only win the possession game, but ultimately win the game. And Dojic on the drive with the kiss. Two Suns there, but neither could control. Here comes Dojic. Barrels down the lane, drops it off inside. Won't get it. And Iguodala, right wing three. Got it. A shot clock winding down. James just did track it down to the same. Airman did to us the other night. Rashir Fleming can do the same thing. That's a great point. Deep three straight away. Allen, got it. The roll, especially now that they are completely healthy. Allen back to the left hand. Free throw line extended jumper. Allen gets it back from the corner. Coffey. Maybe he got a hand on that one. Gillespie gets the open shooting window. Makes him pay for the 22 time All-Star. Fleming with a handoff to Gillespie. Collin, elbow jumper. Timeout LA. Forcing the ball out of the hands of Dojic. Step out of the shot clock. Gillespie's tapping it out of the hands of Reeves. Reeves trying to go baseline on the spin. And that's the energy hustle and the competing that the Suns have got to do. But the shot clock nearly exhausted at the end. And Jalen Green says, that's all right. I got my late night bagging card. Didjimari Bouye steps in for the steal. Rolls-Royce kept. Well, Dojic started five of five. He has missed his last six now. Green, free throw line extended jumper. No, Williams on the tap in. Dunn trying to stay attached to Dojic. Driving right down the lane. Sets up Moravia from the corner. Finally got one to go down. Trailing on the play is Dunn. Graces the pocket pass. Oso hammers it home. Here's Dojic outside. Keep your hands to yourself on that. Step back three from Dojic. Dojic working with Moravia on the screen. Allen driving. Gets to the cup. Strong finish from Allen. Dojic lets it fly. The game in different ways tonight. Six rebounds, one steal in 13 minutes of play. What are you seeing from his growth? Yeah, the offensive rebound with his energy and his size and length is really bothering them. He's doing a great job and he's doing it without fouling, which is big time. Lakers, they play the most zone in the NBA. How can you guys attack that more in the second half? Yeah, they haven't really shown it. I think they're afraid of our shooting a little bit, but we're ready for it. If they throw it out there, we're ready for it. Jesse, thank you. Thank you. Dojic with Dunn defending. Now gets a switch with Green stepping out defensively. Dojic on the drive, gets right into the paint. He's got 20. We have. We've all been there. Lost many a game on the putt-putt course. Reed's quiet so far, nine points. Can't get it though. That was as good a look as they've been able to generate in a while. James on the drive. Oh, missed that one. And the scoring run continues. Suns have missed their last nine three-point attempts, nine and 27 out on the night. Dojic blows it up, eight and finishes off. It seems like they're relegating themselves to maybe not even be in the play-in. Jordan coming out of the timeouts, making wholesale changes. The Suns needed that, their first points of this third quarter. James inside, a lob down inside to James. James has it blocked initially by Bouye, but able to regather. And gets it up and in. Bouye got Reeves in his hip pocket, finds Fleming. Quick corner three on the way. Got it. The Lakers have gotten here. This year, Fleming constantly getting his confidence. Reeves on the backdoor cut. Allen driving into the paint. Tough pull-up. Yeah, he kind of bully-balled De'Andre. Yeah, has not attempted three-point shot yet tonight, but that doesn't mean that he wants his chance. Allen felt like he got by with a push-off right there on that lob. Nogadoro cut off inside. Beshear takes a pocket pass. Nice scoop and score. The youngster attacking the rim. Five for Fleming. Coffey got a hand on it. Gets the steal up the floor to Bouye. Jamari Bouye! 12 points as a result. Here is Reeves driving down the lane. Won't get it. Aiden on the follow. Blocked by Nogadoro. Loose ball. Allen first there. Stops, pulls, got it. Grayson Allen should have attacked that rebound. He kind of stood left with it. Reeves knocked away. Allen looking for another one. The smart inside Laravia. Bobbles it. Dottage a four. Fleming on the drive. Hayes stepping out on Allen. Coffey, quick pull, got it. Grayson on the push. Circles outside. Fleming. Sons in the penalty. Looking for James. Dunn with a switch. James off the elbow. From the corner. Marcus Smart. James with 13. Here is Smart who got the knock down three to tie it up. James on the drive. Off to Jackson Hayes. Ryan Dunn is fortunate right there. Would have been his fifth foul. Gillespie working off the screen. Gets a switch with Hayes stepping out. No kneel across to Allen. Touch pass. Corner three. Ryan Dunn splashes it home. O'Neal matched up defensively on James. Bounce pass to Kinnard. Pull up. Got it. All of his points have come from inside the strike. Oso. He got jammed up there. No foul call and that sets up an easy run of the rim for Kinnard. You look at what that Sons bench did in that third quarter, overcoming the double digit deficit. It's Oso Aguindaro who's ninth down the lane. We'd like to see Collin get a good look. Gets the screen. Fires it. Gets the bucket and a four point opportunity. Been able to knock down nine of the last 13. 18 to 40 now on the night. Hayden stepping out of Gillespie. Oso on the roll. Makes it to the boom room. Reservation for one for LaRavia. Dunn up the floor now to Gillespie. Aguindaro gets the screen. Collin sets his feet. Splashdown. We'd love to see Jalen get a drive to the basket. Here's Kinnard. First three point attempt of the night is long. And again, they're extending their D's now. Staying into his chest. Aguindaro. Flashing a double. Three on the shot clock. Smart. Got it. Collin working on James. Now the switch with Doncic. Aguindaro flashes. Gillespie. Straight away. Bullseye! 0 of 3 tonight. Hayden came in shooting 21% of the last eight games. Green gets the screen. Driving on Hayes with a scoop. You see the open shots the Suns are getting now. That's the fatigue of their D. Smart trying to spin. Gillespie cuts him off. Driving baseline and Smart with an and one. Here's Gillespie. He's got 10 in the quarter. 18 for the game. Inside. Smart with a block. The former defensive player of the year shows he's still got a little bit of it. Doncic on the turnaround. And one. Putting him on the line. James back on the floor for L.A. Step back coming from Luca. Got him. Green from James. Just enough shooting space. He's got 38. He's got to shoot it from out there. Getting into the paint at his size in desperation is not a good thing. Especially the guy like Smart. Knocked it down another triple. This is where the Suns have got to execute. O'Neal on a drive. Gillespie. Loose ball scooped up by James. Four on the shot clock. Driving. White Phoenix lead. Smart driving baseline. Cut off by Udaro. Back to Reed. Allen driving. Chuffs a pass to Dunn. Back to Grayson. Lines it up. Off the mark. The rebound. The push back. That's it. One stop. James out to Smart. Thought about the three. On the drive instead. No. James. Down to 10. Coffey comes up to set the screen. Allen gets a switch with Dodgers stepping out. Grayson on the drive. Drops it off. Touch pass. O'Neal. Let's it fly. Just play the three. Don't care about a two. Smart. Fires it over the top. Finds Reed. Sets his feet. Great out of bounds play. Suns win. 113-110. Congratulations on that one. But just walk me through the play. You get the assist from Collin. Ball's in your hands. Going for three. What's going through your mind? I mean, you know, the play was to get the last shot. I mean, Grayson did a great drive. Attack in the basket. Kicked out to Collin. Collin made one more. And I mean, that's what we do. Knock down open shots and then, you know, hit a big shot like that, especially for the game. And Coach Ott said pregame, too, that tonight was just going to be coming down to one of those energy games. How much were you looking at yourself to be able to provide that? Yeah, I mean, big time, especially being one of the leaders, trying to bring a lot of energy. You know, the second unit came in, picked us up a lot. You know, we had to pick it back up. So I think it was a collective team effort, defensively and offensively. Mentioned just the entire group, too. But I mean, how big was the bench tonight? Guys like Grayson and then also Rashear getting that time and taking steps forward. It's big time. I mean, you know, those guys not getting a lot of reps, you know, especially in the games, being able to stay ready, stick with it. I mean, they came in, they played hard. They got us the lead, you know, especially going into the fourth and we had to close it out. Royce, thank you so much for the time. Grayson multiple times had the building rocking. We've talked about intent, having intent on every possession. I thought our overall intent was good for the majority of the time. We had some spells where we're going to have to figure it out. That's why you have a team. Some guys come back into the game with some energy. I thought just overall our whole group, whether they were in the game or not, we just had the right mindset to play for 48 minutes because we knew that's how long it would take. Coach, when you're looking at that play, you know, you've talked about ball movement all year and to have Grayson stir it first, swing it to get to Royce. Maybe just speak to what you saw on that last play and how that's been what you've been wanting as far as the ball movement. Yeah, it's tremendous. I mean, those are hard. Like, you want to get the shot up at the last possible second as close as you can, but you also need an advantage to get a shot up. So Grayson goes, makes an incredible pass to Collin, and then the unselfishness to swing it one more to Royce. But Royce, his play right before, you know, we had a shot. He crashed. He got a layup. Those are massive. Again, we talk about the possession game a lot. We knew we had to win it. We were plus whatever it was, 9, 10, 11. That's what we need. We just need those extra possessions really help us, really fuels us. It's deflating for the other team and energizing for our group. And just to follow up, the 50-50 ball, I thought there was multiple that you guys got tonight. How big was that, do you feel? Yeah, it's just part of that energy that we talk about. We enjoy the little things. We enjoy doing those things. We can't lose that no matter who's playing. You know, we're missing some guys that bring energy every single night. It's our responsibility as teammates to go out and do the same. We often wonder where the energy is coming from. It can come from me. It comes from all of us. So you look inside first, I thought our bench really brought some extra juice at times when we desperately needed it. Quick last thing, when you're playing against Luka, he makes these shots that you're like, okay. How does the response to that, because I've seen teams before just sort of like, okay, he's doing it again, and then you lose focus. I mean, he's an incredible player. Yeah, he's hard. It's hard. We've tried to show multiple different coverages, not only in pick and roll, but then multiple bodies. But on top of it, he's an incredible passer. So you start sending multiple guys at him. He's able to spray it and get teammates involved. We decided to try to guard him as best we could one-on-one. But everyone starts to question when some of those go in, like, are we gonna stand strong? And playing one-on-one, try to get a stop. I thought down the stretch, we got him off the ball. I'm not sure we got too many stops down the stretch, but we got enough. Jordan talked a lot about Rashear and his impact on the defensive end, and just being disciplined with all of that. It felt like his impact in the middle court has really shifted things in your favor. What did you see from him in particular with the kind of offensive rebound, the margins there and there, obviously, with Luka Doncic? Yeah, he's taking steps, for sure. It's always gonna be defense first with him. He's guarding some of the, we talked about pregame, from Peyton Pritchard to Luka, that's a different type of cover. I thought tonight he really helped us in the first half. And then even just his minutes in the second half, you're starting to feel comfortable with him out there. And I think that speaks to his growth. Our coaches do a great job, Davali, staying with him, the time that he's there. But it's him, he's owning his development of getting better. And he has to be a possession gainer for us, and that's offensive glass. And most of the time, active defensively to try to get some steals. So we mentioned there in the locker room, and the response from his team was something that not every rookie gets. So the guys are learning him and respecting him, which is what we all desperately want in this game, and he's getting it. And then on the offensive side with Grayson, he talked a lot about his drives this season. It felt like after the barrage of threes, he didn't settle. He kept getting paint touches, which led to the game deciding basket. How have you seen him grow with, not just getting to the paint, but that decision that feels like it's the right one that gets the opportunity more? Yeah, Steve, I think it's all of it. You can hear on the bench, make him drive it, make him drive it. Not only the passing piece, I think, on his drives, he's improved, but he has learned new solutions once he gets into the paint. And it's only gonna get better. He knows he can beat people off the dribble because of his gravity. The way he shoots it, not only catch and shoot, but off the dribble. So he just needs to get there more. We get him there more, he's gonna take the reps and use them and grow from them. That pass at the end of the game was high level with some guys and some bodies coming to him. The ability to make the pass and then for us to make the extra one. That all starts by his, just his ability to get into the paint, which we were definitely going to there late game. And last one for you, also felt like he had a lot of impact at the level today. Felt like he was kind of playing a little bit of chess. I know you say he has a license to go at times. How did you see him just kind of read and feel the game throughout the course of the game? Yeah, we've given him the license, staying coverage. If the ball gets downhill, his ability to switch and then just overall activity. I thought he, I mean, he just connects. I think they're even a stretch, him and Colin. We talk a lot about their relationship. He played the whole game. He played the whole total package tonight. He didn't come out of the game for that reason. So the impact's winning, and we often forget that he's only a second year player. So great growth in a big time game for a young guy that's taking steps again. Coach, can't remember seeing you do a full line change before. In a couple minutes into the third quarter, what weren't you seeing from the starters? And where do you feel like the bench picked things back up? Yeah, I mean, it just feels repetitive, that's it. Again, we're pretty honest and transparent. We gotta play better, start better in the third quarter. Thought we talked enough about it, and it's a risk. But it's only a risk if you don't believe in your teammates. And they know they have to come in and change the game. And then the starters help them. It gets the starters out of their own cells, out of their own feelings, to then help the guys on the floor. And I thought our team communication from those starters that did get some time on the bench was growth, that's what we need more of. And it just feels that much better when they come back in the game ready to go. So credit to both sides, the starters and that second unit. And for Jalen to come back out for Grayson and not spend much time out there for the last couple of minutes. How confident are you in that relationship with him where he just understands that's what you felt was best for the team in that moment? Yeah, he knows. I mean, he's a basketball player. He's a high level basketball player. He's played in big time games. He understands, we feel for him. He's trying to develop some type of rhythm. On a new team, we often forget that. Not only has he been out this many games, it's with a new team, a new system, new teammates in a different environment. He's gonna be dying to get back out there in the next game. And again, we're excited just to see him out there. We trust that the process is right, and it'll come. It just needs a little bit of time. With Steven focusing on Oso's defense, I wanna ask you about the screening. Particularly, you guys were able to find a few pockets in the fourth quarter. How good have you seen him get it, like that split second, like I'm moving, but it's still legal. He got a couple there in the fourth. Yeah, he's not moving. He was just moving that one night a couple nights ago. I mean, that's what we're doing. We're gonna stick to screens. We need our shooters to shoot. Drags the X5 up, and then he makes plays from there. So he has speed. He has speed into it, which is good. So not only does he have the physicality and the intelligence, he has speed and thrust. A lot of times, you talk about pace just up and down. We talk about pace into action. He has great pace into his screens. Hey, Jordan. Obviously, the past couple weeks, it's been a little bit of tough sledding offensively, and just injuries and bad news. How important was it to have a night like this, going into a six-day break, where get a little confidence, get some good vibes going for the last quarter of the year? Yeah, I just think we gotta zoom out. I mean, I think this is pretty typical. Look around the league, you have some spots like this during the season. I think you wanna come out of the all-star break healthy and full go. I think there's a human element to it all. We've played some good teams, some good defensive teams. And we're trying to figure it out. Do we have to be better 100%? That was the worst seven-game shooting stretch we've had all year. So there is some shooting variance in it. I thought overall, our offensive intent and purpose was better tonight. So we can build on that, but it doesn't change. From the tip, the next game, we gotta have purpose. It's nice to have a four-day break in here, but we're gonna have to get to work. We have some things to shore up on both ends. It is exciting after a win, but it doesn't change our process tomorrow. Jordan, you mentioned the ball movement on that last play. I just wanted to ask you about Collin getting the ball in the corner. Time's running out. He has hit big shots in these moments before. What does it say about his presence of mind, just to be able to dish it to Royce like that in that moment? Yeah, I mean, he's a winning player. We want him to shoot more. Definitely came up again tonight. They had the awareness, the awareness of the time in that play. He was deep corner, which obviously helps get the pass there. Yeah, Collin's just a winning player. He's gonna make the right play over and over and over again, and that's contagious. Coach, how do you feel that this team, especially in late game situations, how do you feel that the poise has grown throughout the course of the season? There's definitely development of it. It's obviously easier with Book and Dylan, guys that have kind of been through it. This is a lineup that probably hasn't played very much in a game, in a close game. But again, I think also his ability to do it in his second year. Grayson has been through it. Royce, I think, is one that we don't talk about enough, just his presence. We talk about him as a passer, but him as a defender, as a rebounder, and then just offensively, the gravity that he produces. And then Collin, Collin's gonna make the right play. He's a winner, but Ryan was out there tonight. So those experiences, we just have to continue to build on them. Ryan hasn't got a ton of those reps this year, but when he is needed, he's ready to go, because he works, he works and he cares. So that group of five probably hasn't played many reps late game, especially against a team like that. With that much experience on the other side, I think we can build off of that. Jordan, you kind of just went through all the guys there, but I was gonna ask you about Royce. All year he's been among the league leaders in fourth quarter, three-point percentage. Just what does it say about how in the way he can be steady and come through even if it's a quiet night up until that point? Yeah, Royce just lives steady. He is always positive. He comes in every day, comes to work, he's a smile on his face. He's been through it. He's been through it different places. Can't thank him enough as a first year head coach as a person that he's just there. He's just there, he's present, and he's always on the court. He literally is always there, always ready. Some different matchups tonight, one of the greatest players ever. He has to match up to him, and he takes the challenge every single night. And you can feel his competitiveness, along with his intelligence, that really lifts our group. We feel good with him all those games, and the game, he doesn't make mistakes. Thought he was massive tonight on the offensive rebound in that shot. Sorry about that. Royce, just take me through that shot and what you, the ball's moving. Obviously, Collin gets it, and you're waiting, hands ready. Just maybe take me through, watch the unfold with Grayson first having it up top. I mean, yeah. I mean, we wanted to get the last shot. Coach had a play design for the Grayson to take it, or get to the basket. I mean, he got the switch, drove to the paint, he had a hell of a pass. Collin getting the one more, and then I'm being ready to shoot, as always, and knocking it down. Is that your, I'm just asking, is that your first game winner in the NBA? No, not first one. I had a couple in Brooklyn, and then I had one also in Brooklyn. I had a triple-double, so, I mean, but I think first time, here, for sure. Okay, just speak to how you're just always ready to shoot it. We know you have one of the quickest releases in the league, but just maybe the mentality of no matter what's happening in the game, you're ready to launch. Yeah, I mean, just always staying ready. I mean, being one of my super skills, especially for this team, spacing. I mean, my shooting is one of the things that the guys rely on. I'm always saying I'm open, and I think every time I shoot, everybody thinks it's going in. So, I mean, that's a good sign. But I think just staying confident always, I mean, makes or miss, it don't matter, I'm gonna keep shooting regardless. Last thing I had, how big was this win? Big time, I mean, especially the bench guys coming in at second unit, picking up the intensity, getting that spark. I mean, credit to them, they started the momentum in the run, and I think we had to come back in, finish the game off. But everybody just having a team effort, playing hard, and won this win real bad. Royce, it felt like y'all cycled through a ton of different coverages tonight, especially with Luka and all the talent that he has. How did you see that ability for y'all to just stay the course with the coverages that y'all were throwing at him, resulting in y'all being able to have that chance at the end? Yeah, I mean, it's NBA, you wanna give guys different looks. I mean, try to make things tough for everybody, trying not to give them the same look. So, I mean, we able to switch up defense, different coverages, have different guys guard. So I think just trying to make it tough for whoever we're playing against, taking away their offensive possessions, just playing hard. And it feels like you've been in a position before that Rashear is in now, as far as chomping at the bit, waiting for that opportunity to meet preparation. And then he gets what he did today. How are you seeing just his growth at that point of attack position? And how do you value someone being that good at that spot this early on? I mean, credit to all the work he's been putting in. I mean, each and every day, he coming in, working hard, ready to do whatever. I mean, we got a lot of faith in him, got a lot of confidence. For him to be in the position that he is, he's earning the minutes. And he's doing really well. I mean, just his defensive intensity and knocking down open shots, attacking the basket. So, I mean, every day, he's in the gym, working hard, ready for his opportunity. And then as his number is called, he's ready to take advantage of it. It's been kind of a rough stretch offensively for you guys last couple games since the All-Star break, really. But was tonight just a matter of some shots went down or did something change offensively? What did you think was the reason? I mean, you could say shots fell. I mean, I think it's been tough having not our full team healthy. So I mean, but every game is different, different guys stepping up. I mean, today, we knocked down shots. Other two games, three games, we make half those shots, we probably win the game. So I mean, we can't just rely on our offensive shot making ability. On defense, we gotta kick it up, especially when those moments when offense isn't rolling. And I think just collectively just playing hard and wanting to win the possession game. Royce, what was your mindset when coach subbed out all the starters early on in the third quarter and then you come in in the fourth and are just able to weather that storm from the Lakers? I mean, my mindset never changes. I mean, great call by coach. I mean, he wanted to bring some new energy in. I mean, credit to those guys being ready, picking us up. I mean, we had a tough stretch, but I mean, it's a whole team effort. I mean, we all rooting for each other. We all celebrating each other's success. We came out with the win, so I think that's all that really matters. Royce, just in the two and a half seasons you've been with the Suns, I mean, you've been in the building for a lot of these clutch moments. Just what's it like with the Phoenix crowd whenever you hit those big shots and everyone's rallying that loudly? I mean, it's big time. I mean, these fans are with us every game. They supporting us, cheering every night. We feed off their energy. So I think, especially in those clutch moments, they expect us to win every game and that's what we expect too. But I think it's more exciting for them, for us to knock down the shot and credit to them cuz we feed off that energy and we just as hype as them. And just one more, I'm just curious about the art of whenever you're deciding to lift up, timing that with Grayson's drive. I mean, what are you watching in that moment? Are you just watching for him to drive or the low man when he comes over? I mean, I'm just reading the defense, seeing if I can get an open and forced shot, or have an outlet for him if he can attack the basket. So I think it's just everybody just constantly moving, trying to create open looks for each other. Thank you, Royce. Where did you feel like the game turned after you'd rallied to take that lead in the second half? I guess you could point to the six point possession, but anything with the way you were playing up to that point? I mean, in general, I think the thing we talked about this morning was trying to limit their lasers, and not just in makes, but in terms of attempts. It's the reason we didn't play a ton of zone, or didn't play any zone. We made some adjustments with our fives, had them in coverage for most of the game. They ended up getting some good looks, went to 15. They got some transition threes. The thing we talked about, to be able to limit their lasers, you have to defend for 24 seconds, so that starts in transition. And then they're just gonna keep playing and get to multiple actions. And that's the part that I think that just hurt us a lot, just being able to keep up with their pace and their speed. What did you see from your offense, good and bad, or throughout the night? I thought Luke was fantastic, I'll start there. I mean, he made a ton of great plays, made the right play very consistent. I just told him there was one play where he had created a mismatch and made a good play, and then got the mismatch again, and took a tough step back from the left wing early in the clock. Outside of that, I liked his process tonight. I thought in the second half, we did a good job of getting the right guys onto the basketball, and then running offense. Got some good stuff out of ATOs, despite the fact that we botched three straight to start the game in the first half, and I think that lineup that we played tonight, which I don't know if it was our first time playing it, but it was something we talked about pregame, was letting Luke and AR play longer together, letting LeBron play on his own for a little bit. And there was seven minutes of that Jake, Luke, AR, Luka, Jackson lineup, and that was a good lineup for us tonight. And then end game, you can't get a better look than that. So we executed, the guys did a great job executing. Looked clean coming out of his hand, I thought it was in. The O'Neill three, was that just you guys were scrambling a bit, or? Well, so there's two things on that. So they wheel, so the ball gets middle, they wheel. So Jake's guy, when Luka was on the ball, he got to the dunker. So they're basically in double dunker. Jalen Green was on the right wing, and as he drove to his right hand, he started drifting towards the corner. And now Amir Coffey worked his way out to the corner on that drive. So essentially, we ended up with two low men. And so it would have been Smart's rotation, had Jalen Green not shifted towards the corner. Really, there was no one there to go, Jake, where Jake was to be able to get the contest. There was no one to rotate, essentially. So he got a clean look, and he made it. And you guys obviously came back from down 12, six and a half minutes ago. And Marcus Smart seemed to have his fingerprints all over that. What did you see from him over that stretch? Yeah, Smart was great. I mean, I think when we got down, and look, the whole game got a little wacky just because of the nature of their runs and us not winning that challenge in the timeout situation. So to start a half with three timeouts, knowing in a tie game where you've got to have one at the end, I think that hurt us. You know, when we got up double digits in the third quarter, and they made that run, I think they cut it to two when I finally called it. I didn't necessarily want to call it. I wanted to be able to go into the fourth with three, because Jordan had called two already. So there was already two mandatory. So I was hoping I could get to the end of the game with two timeouts. And that kind of hurt us. JJ, I want to ask you about some of the bad luck moments and the trickle effects from that that seem to kind of hurt you guys, whether it's emotionally or spirit-wise. Like Jalen Green, you guys played 23 seconds of good possession, of defense possession in a three-point game in the second quarter. Jalen Green hits a bomb. And then Vando. Yeah, so they had two six-point possessions. Yeah. You know, there was another where you guys are up 12. Luca, that three you mentioned, Luca takes a quick shot. They come back down. They score. You guys are on the wrong end of a block charge. 10-0 run. What needs to happen to better handle that type of in-game adversity? Who's that on? And how does that? Have you sensed that throughout the course of the year, like those kind of like back-breaking-type moments? Yeah. I mean, I think we've certainly had – I would say this. We talk about this as a staff. Like our losses are louder than other teams, because we're the Lakers and because of the way we lose. You know, you get this deep in the season. And again, tonight was a one-possession clutch game, which you know, now we've lost a few of those. But we've been great for the most part in the clutch all year. Our losses are louder. I would say – so we had some adversity tonight. Did we not respond? I think after, yeah, definitely. Yeah, you're not going to avoid adversity. For sure, but I mean, I think maybe it's quicker. Maybe it's a next-play mentality, more of that. I just kind of – if not just a full-on tonight issue. Yeah, no, I thought our guys were great with that tonight. I mean, basketball is a game of mistakes. And you know, we made mistakes just like – I make mistakes. I don't think Jordan Ott coached a perfect game. I don't think their players – you know, Grayson Allen kicked our butt. He was 9 for 24. Like it's – that's the game. And so I think our guys responded tonight. Coach, obviously when you come out of the all-star game like that, you don't want to go through the slump like this. And it's a long season, 82 games. For you as a coach, what are you looking at right now to get out of this slump? What's the emphasis for your team? I just continue to stay together, keep playing basketball the right way. I think, you know, tonight we had some great defensive possessions that we showed at halftime. We had some great ones in the second half. You know, we just – it's the thing that we can do it. We just need it for 48 minutes. And, you know, even in the games, you know, that we've lost. You know, you go to like a look at the Boston game. Like, you know, it's a one-point game with four minute – we were holding Boston to 40 points in the first half with four minutes to go. Like against that offense, like you can't ask for more. So it's just got to be for 48 minutes. Because then they, you know, then they go on an 8-0 run to close the second quarter. So it's a problem that we've, you know, we've had all season. It's the valuing of each play and each possession. And if you stack enough good possessions you win. If you stack enough bad possessions you lose. You got a mic right there? Luka, what's the best way for a team to put behind two bosses like this that are obviously so frustrating for the group? How do you guys move on from this? We just got to think that we have another opportunity. That's what's good about NBA, you know. You don't get a whole week off. You get a game in two days. So we got to respond to that. They were able to score on you guys in bunches in the second quarter, late third, early fourth. What do you think this team needs to do to try to stem that tide when the other team starts to get momentum? Yeah, I mean, they shot 53s, you know. So obviously they make a lot. So they're just moving around. I think a couple minutes, I mean, stretches. We did a pretty good job. You know, we were physical. But then just a couple stretches of not being physical and they just was running around. To follow up on that, just how frustrating is it that on a game like that tonight it felt like, I mean, you guys might have played 40 good minutes of basketball. But, you know, probably were outscored by 35 points in the eight minutes that you won. Does it feel like that on the court, like where it's like you're mostly doing your job and then you guys just kind of get blitzed? I mean, definitely feel like it, you know. Like I say, you know, third quarter I think we started amazing. They had to go through timeouts, you know. But they came out the end of third quarter, you know, and they were shooting everything and making everything. So it was definitely a disappointing loss. Luca, you mentioned that there were times where you guys were physical and times where you guys weren't. I think it's a dance question. When you guys weren't physical, that's when you guys would get blitzed. What is it going to take? Physicality has been a talking point pretty much all season. What do you think is it going to take for that to be more consistent throughout a game? I don't know. Just got to do it more. Kind of got kneed on that one play. Yeah, it's a little bit painful, but I'll be fine. Luca, obviously not the way you guys wanted to come out of the all-star break. I asked JJ this as well. For you, what's the emphasis moving forward and you guys go to this final stretch of the season here? Just go game by game, you know, trying to win every game. Obviously we had a start good, but nothing's over. Just got to keep bringing the mindset of trying to win every game. When you're going through one of those stretches in the fourth quarter in specific, when you're hitting all those big time three-pointers, what's your mentality like when you've got to take over a game like that and really will your team to victory? Well, just trying to win the game. You know, obviously I think we hit a couple big shots and then I think we had an amazing look at the end of the game. I'll take that look any time, but just didn't go in. I think, like I said, we have some big shots, but it didn't go our way. Thanks, Luca. Thank you.