The Phoenix Suns wasted no time asserting dominance in the 2025-26 NBA preseason, handing the Los Angeles Lakers a decisive 103-81 defeat in their opener on Friday night at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California. It was a matchup that promised fireworks between two Pacific Division rivals, but the Suns controlled the tempo from tip-off, leaving the Lakers scrambling to find their rhythm.
Suns' offensive surge proved overwhelming early on. Phoenix jumped out to a 28-18 lead after the first quarter, fueled by sharp shooting from beyond the arc and relentless pressure on defense. By halftime, the Suns had stretched the advantage to 52-38, with key contributions from their revamped frontcourt. The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled with turnovers—committing 12 in the first half alone—and couldn't generate consistent scoring inside. Indeed, Los Angeles' star-studded lineup looked disjointed, perhaps still shaking off the offseason rust.
However, the second half wasn't much kinder to the purple and gold. Phoenix extended their lead to as many as 25 points in the fourth, cruising to victory while resting their top players for stretches. Suns guard Devin Booker, though limited in minutes, tallied 18 points efficiently, underscoring Phoenix's depth after a busy summer of roster tweaks. For the Lakers, LeBron James managed 14 points in just 22 minutes, but the bench faltered badly, shooting under 30 percent from the field. Moreover, injuries and load management kept several key pieces sidelined, raising early questions about LA's depth heading into the regular season.
Fans hoping to catch the action had options aplenty— the game streamed live on NBA League Pass and local outlets like Spectrum SportsNet for Lakers viewers and Bally Sports Arizona for Suns supporters. Looking ahead, both teams tip off their preseason slates with more tune-ups: Phoenix hosts the Mavericks on October 7, while the Lakers travel to face Golden State two days later. These early games at neutral-site venues like Acrisure Arena offer a glimpse into preseason preparations, but the real test comes soon enough.
In the end, this lopsided affair serves as a reminder that preseason results, while telling, often mask the grind of a full campaign—what adjustments will these squads make as October wears on?