Lakers lose at Phoenix for season series sweep

Phoenix Suns 115 - Lakers 100 (end of regulation)

The Suns completed a season sweep of the Lakers, winning their fourth game in four tries on Monday night in Phoenix.

Playing without Kobe Bryant (rest), the Lakers competed to a tie through the first two quarters, but fell apart defensively in the third quarter and in the final moments of the fourth period.

When the game seemed over in the final quarter, Nick Young got hot -- shooting the Lakers back into the battle but turnovers and mental errors downed the team once again.

Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas led Phoenix with 24 points apiece. Eric Bledsoe scored 17 points with seven assists, Markieff Morris added 15 points and Gerald Green had 13 points for the Suns, who shot 50.0% from the field as a team.

The Lakers also got 24 points from Young. Jeremy Lin notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Jordan Hill and Wesley Johnson both scored 12 points, but they also combined for 10 turnovers.

The Lakers finished with 23 miscues to the Suns’ 15, while shooting 45.3% from the field.

Phoenix hit 13 three-point attempts in 32 tries (40.6%) while the Lakers converted eight of 17 (47.1%). The Lakers took 13 more free throws than the Suns (35-22), while making 68.6% (24). The Suns shot 72.7% from the line (converting 16).

Tarik Black went down with a sprained right ankle, needing to be helped off the court, clearly in significant pain.

Wayne Ellington started for Bryant, scoring nine points in 21 1/2 minutes. Ronnie Price sat out (elbow), giving Lin the start.

With the loss, the Lakers fell to 12-30. They’ll travel to New Orleans to play the Pelicans (20-21) on Wednesday. The Suns (25-18) host the Portland Trail Blazers (31-11), also on Wednesday.

Suns 87 - Lakers 77 (end of third quarter)

The Suns predictably pulled ahead in the third quarter, out-scoring the Lakers, 36-26.

Goran Dragic scored 20 points on nine-of-12 shooting. Isaiah Thomas contributed 17 points while Eric Bledsoe added 16 points with seven assists.

The Lakers struggled taking care of the ball with 15 turnovers.

Wesley Johnson led the Lakers with 12 points, but he also had four miscues. Jordan Hill scored 10 points with five turnovers. Jeremy Lin added 10 points, six assists and three turnovers.

The Lakers shot 45.8% from the field but allowed the Suns to shoot 51.6%.

Lakers 51 - Suns 51 (halftime)

The Lakers and Suns remained tied, after Isaiah Thomas hit a three-pointer with 30 seconds left in the half.

Thomas scored 13 points off the bench for the Suns. Goran Dragic was the game’s leading scorer with 16 points.

The Lakers didn’t have a double-figure scorer but got at least three points from each of the 10 players who got minutes, including seven points from Jordan Hill and Wayne Ellington.

As a team, the Lakers shot 40% from the field, but took advantage of Phoenix on the offensive glass, 9-3. The Lakers also took 23 free throws to 13 for the Suns.

Phoenix shot 43.9% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range (5-15). The Lakers hit 44.4% (4-9) from behind the arc.

Nick Young, Ryan Kelly and Wesley Johnson each scored six points for the Lakers.

Lakers 26 - Suns 26 (end of first quarter)

The Lakers opened well in Phoenix, tying the Suns at 26 despite shooting just 33.3% from the field.

Wesley Johnson led the Lakers with six points. Jeremy Lin added five.

The Suns got six points from Goran Dragic, shooting 47.4% from the field as a team.

The Lakers held a 5-1 advantage on the offensive glass. They also took 13 free throws (making nine) to the Suns’ seven attempts (converting six).

Nine of the 10 Lakers who played, scored at least a point -- Wayne Ellington the lone exception.

Pregame

The Lakers (12-29) will try to avoid a five-game losing streak in Phoenix against the Suns (24-18) on Monday night.

Kobe Bryant (rest) and Ronnie Price (elbow) are out, as are Julius Randle (knee) and Steve Nash (back).

Jeremy Lin and Wayne Ellington are the expected starters in the backcourt for the Lakers.

For an in-depth breakdown, check out check out Preview: Lakers at Suns.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.