The loss by the Phoenix Suns at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinal game last night, controversial or not, still counts as a loss. It also counts towards the Suns’ regular season record, dropping them to 12-9 on the season and into the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
Giving credit where it is due, the Lakers’ defense clamped down and made life hell for the Suns. Los Angeles is long and large, and with complementary players like Taurean Prince and Jarred Vanderbilt, they possess a defensive acumen coupled with length, physicality, and lateral quickness that has been a challenge for Phoenix to navigate this season.