Five takeaways from Lakers’ 119-99 loss to Phoenix

The second game of the Lakers’ new season was a lot like the first. Here are five takeaways from the 119-99 loss Wednesday in Phoenix.

1) Who’s No. 2? Kobe Bryant had an admirable 31 points, but the Lakers desperately need a second option on offense. Carlos Boozer had 17 points in the opener but only four against Phoenix. Jeremy Lin has 13 points and seven assists in two games. Bryant can’t do this by himself.

2) The Lakers lived and died by the three-point shot last season. Now they just die by it. Houston and Phoenix combined to make 28 of 61, a commendable 45.9%. The Lakers are a not-so-commendable seven for 23 so far (30.4%).

3) Unless Lin gets hot, the long-distance shooting might not improve until at least next week, when stretch forward Ryan Kelly is expected to return from two hamstring injuries. Nick Young has pledged to take eight three-point shots a game, and make five, when he returns in a month from a torn thumb ligament.

4) Boozer somehow had eight turnovers. Eight turnovers! The rest of the Lakers combined for only five.

5) Ed Davis will scoop up many of the minutes at backup power forward now that Julius Randle is done for the season. He had 14 points and nine rebounds Wednesday, a good start.

Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan