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Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball around Nick Smith Jr. #20 and Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
When the Los Angeles Lakers lose, they get blown out. That’s been the pattern for JJ Redick’s team through the first 28 games of the season.
Their 132-108 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday marked their ninth double-digit loss this season, making them the first team in 35 years to lose their first nine games by 10 or more points, per OptaSTATS.
The Lakers are the first NBA team since the 1990-91 Heat to have their first 9 losses of a season all come by double digits.
The Lakers have thus far lost three games by 17 or more points, and another two by at least 14. They’ve lost by an average margin of 18.1 points in their nine losses — a sign that Redick’s men tend to lose games midway through the fourth quarter.
Lakers Excel in Clutch Games
On the flipside, the Lakers have been excellent in closing out teams in clutch games decided by five or fewer points in the last five minutes. Their 10-0 clutch record ranks No. 1 in the NBA, ahead of the San Antonio Spurs (12-3) and Detroit Pistons (15-5).
The Lakers’ tendency to get blown out, coupled with their grit to survive close games, could be perceived as a sign of a team that isn’t a frontrunner. According to Lakers wing Jarred Vanderbilt, Redick’s staff runs an extended drill dedicated to preparing his team for clutch-time moments. That would explain why the Lakers rarely lose taking a lead into the fourth quarter in the Redick era.
“There’s a reason we’re 9-0 [in clutch games],” Vanderbilt said after the Lakers edged out the Suns, 116-114, last Sunday. “We go over late-game situations in practice a lot, being able to see it [and] execute in real time is just a testament to the whole group.”
First Losing Streak of Season
The Lakers hadn’t lost back-to-back games until Tuesday’s loss to the Suns, which is rather impressive for a team that has used 17 different starting lineups through 28 games due to injuries.
Redick, though, refused to use the inconsistent lineups as an excuse for the Lakers giving up 132 points, including 62 paint points, to the Suns on Tuesday. During his news conference, Redick blasted the Lakers for not committing fully to defense.
“There are shortcuts you can take, or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort. Or you can sprint back or you can’t,” he said. “It’s just a choice. And there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not gonna make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of ’em correctly?”
The second-year coach was still optimistic about his team snapping their two-game losing streak during Thursday’s Christmas Day clash against the Houston Rockets.
“The guys have been great about responding to challenges, whether that’s been injuries, a loss, a poor performance,” Redick said of his team’s resilience.
“We got a lot of games left, so we got to continue that trend and we got to stick together. Coming off these two games, you’re not gonna have a good taste in your mouth, and you’re gonna be thinking about how you played, how the team’s playing.
“I told them to detach tomorrow, be with their family, enjoy the holiday, we’ll all come with the right mentality on Christmas.”
The Lakers (19-9) enter Thursday’s game against the Rockets (17-10) as -1.5 underdogs, per DraftKings, despite being at home. Luka Doncic (left calf contusion) and Rui Hachimura (groin) are both trending towards a return.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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