Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in California by a score of 107-96. Durant finished the loss with 21 poin

It has been a roller-coaster season for the Phoenix Suns this year. But this time, the drama wasn’t just on the scoreboard. While the Suns took a heavy 107-96 blow from the Lakers on March 16, Kevin Durant and head coach Mike Budenholzer were caught in a heated exchange.

The Suns got the lead down to single digits in the third, and got it down to eight after a triple by Royce O’Neale (10 points) after an 8-0 run through 7:04. After the Lakers pushed the lead back to 16, the Suns had another 7-0 surge that cut the Lakers' lead to nine at 1:40. The Suns continue to struggle on just 19.4% from the perimeter.

Luka Dončić and the Lakers come home after a rough road trip. Kevin Durant and the Suns have struggled mightily in 2025.

The Phoenix Suns struggled all game and lost to the Luka Doncic-led Los Angeles Lakers, 107-96, on Sunday. The Suns’ loss snapped the Lakers’ four-game losing streak and split their four-game Pacific Division season series.