Five takeaways from Lakers' loss to the Phoenix Suns

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Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, left, steals the ball from Lakers guard Ronnie Price during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jeremy Lin, right, tries to steal the ball away from Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, center, as Lakers star Kobe Bryant looks on during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant, right, tries to work past Phoenix Suns center Alex Len, left, and forward P.J. Tucker during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, center, tries to pass between Lakers forwards Ed Davis, left, and Jordan Hill during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Sunday. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Jordan Hill loses control of the ball during a 116-107 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, right, is fouled by Lakers forward Wesley Johnson while driving to the basket during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Sunday. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, center, drives to the basket between Lakers teammates (from left) Jeremy Lin, Ed Davis and Carlos Boozer during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Sunday. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Wesley Johnson, left, and Suns guard Isaiah Thomas chase after a loose ball during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers small forward Nick Young, right, shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Gerald Green during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jeremy Lin, left, tries to strip the ball away from Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Jordan Hill dunks during a game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Ronnie Price, left, puts up a shot in front of Phoenix Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe during the first half of Sunday’s game at Staples Center. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant tries to drive around Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe drives to the basket past Lakers forward Ed Davis, right, during the Lakers’ 116-107 loss at Staples Center on Sunday. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers small forward Nick Young puts up a shot during a 116-107 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Lakers guard Ronnie Price, center, puts up a shot in front of Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, left, tires to pass around Lakers guard Ronnie Price during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic puts up a shot over Lakers forward Wesley Johnson during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Lakers forward Ed Davis, right, blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe during a game at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant, left, is greeted by boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. after a 116-107 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Dec. 28, 2014. (Wally Skaij / Los Angeles Times)

By Eric Pincus

Dec. 29, 2014 7:30 AM PT

The Lakers (9-22) fell short after a fourth-quarter rally, falling to the Phoenix Suns (18-14). Here are five takeaways from their 116-107 loss on Sunday at Staples Center.

1. Kobe Bryant was in good spirits after the loss, saying his “legs felt a lot better” after sitting out the three previous games to rest. Coach Byron Scott has pledged to reduce Bryant’s minutes, and the Lakers’ All-Star guard played only 32 on the night.

“Three more minutes [of rest] makes a big difference, especially the type of minutes I play,” said Bryant.

Bryant finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, facing multiple double teams.

2. Jeremy Lin had a strong night with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, but he missed an important three-pointer that was on line but somehow didn’t land.

“Tonight was definitely a big step in the right direction,” said Lin. “But when you talk about reaching my full potential, there’s still more that I can do.”

3. Nick Young was hot, hitting for 21 points on four of six shooting from three-point range to improve to a career-best 44.9% from behind the arc. Young started the game in seventh place in the NBA in the category. Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks) is leading the league at 51.5%, followed by Rasual Butler (Washington Wizards) and Luke Babbitt (New Orleans Pelicans) at 50.0%, Courtney Lee (Memphis Grizzlies) at 49.4%, Patrick Patterson (Toronto Raptors) at 46.6% and Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards) at 46.1%.

4. The Lakers had trouble with the Suns’ trio of point guards (Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas), who played together in stretches in a small lineup. “They’ve got one on the left, one on the right and one in the middle,” Bryant said. “You can’t cover them all.”

5. The Suns have beaten the Lakers three times this season, hurting their own chances at getting the Lakers’ first-round pick in the 2015 NBA draft (as part of the Steve Nash trade). If the Lakers get a top-five selection, they keep the pick. If it’s six or higher, it’ll go to the Suns. Phoenix needs to the Lakers to be a bad team, but not top-five bad. Of course the Suns can’t afford to let the Lakers have a game. Last season, Phoenix missed the playoffs by a single game with 48 wins.

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

Five takeaways from Lakers’ loss to the Phoenix Suns

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