Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to guard Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NBA ba sketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) falls to the floor after colliding with Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with guard Gabe Vincent (7) and center Christian Koloko (10) after a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic, third from left, sits on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Luka Doncic, third from right, sits on the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee (22) drives against Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) and center Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) to score in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant (35) drives against Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Lakers center Christian Koloko (10) has his shot blocked by Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gets a pass off in front of Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Show Caption1 of 12Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to guard Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij) Expand LOS ANGELES — For Luka Doncic, the “marching orders”, as coach JJ Redick put it, don’t change regardless of who’s available and playing for the Lakers. So even with LeBron James (strained left groin) and Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) unavailable for Sunday afternoon’s home matchup against the Phoenix Suns, what the Lakers asked of him remained the same. And Doncic delivered, being the driving force behind the Lakers’ 107-96 win over the Suns, ending their season-long losing streak after a winless four-game trip. After sitting out of Friday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets, Doncic led the Lakers with 33 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. “We [knew] we had to do better,” Doncic said. “We [had] to be more physical, first of all. Our defense was amazing, from the start to finish.” Austin Reaves added 28 points, six assists and four rebounds. Starting center Jaxson Hayes returned after missing the previous four games and immediately made his presence felt at the rim on both ends of the floor. Hayes finished with a season-high-tying 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds, serving as a vertical threat at the rim and a release valve for Doncic and Reaves on drives or when Phoenix sent multiple defenders toward the Lakers’ main ball handlers. “It was great being back on the court,” Hayes said. “The guys, they made things really easy for me.” Dorian Finney-Smith added 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes as a starter. Despite coming off a four-game trip that took them to the East Coast and had them play three of the matchups in different time zones, including back-to-back games in Milwaukee and Denver on Thursday and Friday night, the Lakers (41-25) were the team that set the tone early. They scored the game’s first seven points, a lead that grew to 31-15 at the end of the first quarter and 54-37 at halftime. “It is very abnormal for a team to come back from an East Coast trip and that next game a day after the trip, come out with more energy than the other team,” Coach JJ Redick said. “And play harder than the other team. On top of that, we had a back-to-back and we lost a crushing game on Friday night. Our locker room, it was dispiriting to lose that game. It was disheartening. “And for our guys to come back with an early start and be the harder-playing team from the beginning, that to me says everything about our group.” Doncic had 13 points and three assists in the first, with Hayes scoring eight points of his scoring total in the opening period. The Lakers benefited from the Suns’ stars struggling with their shots. Kevin Durant (21 points, nine rebounds) and Devin Booker (19 points, 11 assists, six rebounds) both shot 6-of-17 from the field. “They’re an incredibly difficult team to guard,” Redick said. “Our guys executed what we wanted to do. They took the shots we were willing to live with. [Jordan Goodwin] and Doe, everybody had turns because we [switched] a lot, but him and Doe set the tone on Book and KD.  And those guys make tough shots and we had to try something to make it hard for them and those two guys set the tone.” Bradley Beal (four points, two rebounds) didn’t play in the second half because of left hamstring soreness. Phoenix shot just 39.3% from the field (35 for 89) and 22% (9 for 41) from beyond the arc. “Anytime you can keep a team like that with so many offensive weapons to [96] points, you did a good job with schemes and coverages and just paying attention to the game plan,” Reaves said. “And at the end of the day, competing really hard.” The Suns (31-37) have lost three of their last four games and 16 of 21 going back to Feb. 1. The Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena to complete their home back-to-back set. Related Articles Lakers | Lakers look to get well and get over winless road trip Lakers | Short-handed Lakers nearly stun Nuggets in finale of 0-4 trip Lakers | Luka Doncic sits out Lakers’ road-trip finale against Nuggets Lakers | Depleted Lakers blown out by Bucks, remain winless on trip Lakers | Lakers looking to improve against switching defenses ...read more read less