Following a 2-1 record at the California Classic in San Francisco last week, the Lakers continued their Summer League play with a 104-84 loss to the Phoenix Suns Friday night in Las Vegas.
In front of the likes of head coach Darvin Ham, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and newest additions Juan Toscano-Anderson and Thomas Bryant, the young Purple and Gold roster continued to show its development over the course of four games played together thus far.
The combination of Scotty Pippen Jr. and Paris Bass provided the energetic surge early on with Pippen Jr. leading the game with 15 points (5-of-10 FG) through the first half.
The six-point halftime deficit blossomed into an 18-point lead for the Suns by the end of the third, as Phoenix rattled off shot-after-shot with no answer from the opposition (outscored the Lakers 33-21 in the frame).
Without Jay Huff for a second consecutive game (health and safety protocols), the Suns dominated the paint as the Lakers lacked the tenacity of any interior presence all game long (PHX outscored L.A. 52-34 in the paint).
The Lakers trailed essentially the entire game and only led by a point after a Pippen Jr. made free throw at the 3:11 mark of the first quarter.
Pippen Jr. finished with 19 points in 24 minutes to go along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Through the four games, Pippen is averaging 13.3 points (38.0 FG percent), 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
Bass ended his night with 14 points, and Cole Swider (11 PTS, 4 REB) and Mason Jones (10 PTS, 4 REB) joined the double-digit group with 25-plus minutes played each.
Phoenix matched the Lakers quartet of double-digit scorers with Louis King leading all players with 20 points. Ish Wainwright tacked on 17 points and Tyson Carter and Duop Reath registered 11 points each.
Lakers draft pick Max Christie finished 7-of-8 from the free throw line and a field goal for nine points and added eight rebounds in 26 minutes as a starter.
The Lakers will be back in Summer League action this Sunday when they face the Charlotte Hornets.