The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their first loss of the 2024-25 season in a very close game against their Pacific Division rivals, the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers lost the matchup 109-105, missed key opportunities down the stretch and ultimately came up short in the second and fourth quarters, arguably the two most decisive stretches of the game.

While an undefeated season was never expected, a close loss to a team they will likely fight for a playoff berth is still difficult to swallow. Here are five key takeaways from the Lakers’ performance against Phoenix:

1. Head coach JJ Redick takes responsibility

This was Redick’s first loss as an NBA head coach and he did not shy away from taking responsibility. After the game, Redick acknowledged that there were strategic decisions he could have made differently, taking the blame for his team’s loss.

“We said we want to be a process team,” Redick saying. I liked our process tonight. I liked the way we started the game. We talked about getting off to a great start, how they played against us on Friday in Los Angeles and we did that. I liked our level of competition and competing on the defensive end. They put you in a lot of tough spots and they have elite individual shooters. I’ll have to go watch it, but I felt like we somehow lost to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s ability to hit tough doubles. I thought our execution down the stretch was phenomenal. If there’s anything to criticize, it’s probably me. I probably should have gone to the Fire a possession or two earlier against KD. But I liked that group we had defensively. I trust those guys. Then the other thing I would say is that we should never have a 14-point quarter. That depends on me too. Part of that is me. I have to make sure we’re running a good offense. I felt like it was a bit random, I got stuck. We talked about it at halftime, for us to be a high-level offense, we had to move our bodies and move the ball. They came on the screen and took us out of what we were doing initially and we were great in the second half. We executed very well in that second half. “It was just the second quarter that really hurt us.”

It’s clear he’s setting a tone of accountability early in his coaching tenure, which could go a long way toward building confidence in this Lakers team.

2. LeBron James’ 10-point streak is still alive

LeBron James’ record streak of scoring 10-plus points in every regular-season game since January 2007 was in jeopardy late in the fourth quarter. However, a key three-pointer allowed him to keep the streak alive, showing the 39-year-old’s resilience and reliability, even in high-risk moments.

3. Losing the second and fourth quarters was costly

The Lakers struggled offensively in both the second and fourth quarters, which ultimately cost them the game. After a solid 34-point first quarter, they managed just 14 in the second, erasing their early lead and sending them into halftime trailing. In the fourth, Phoenix outscored them 33-22, securing the victory. These two quarters revealed areas where the Lakers need to be more consistent if they want to compete in a competitive Western Conference.

4. Anthony Davis remains the focal point of the Lakers.

Davis has established himself as the Lakers’ most impactful player, a status reinforced in this game. He led the team with 29 points on 12-of-24 shooting, adding 15 rebounds, three assists, one steal and three blocks. While James continues to play a pivotal role, it’s clear that Davis is the main focus in Redick’s system, and the Lakers’ success will largely depend on his performances night in and night out.

5. The Lakers can compete with the best.

Despite the loss, the Lakers remained competitive against one of the best teams in the Western Conference. LeBron was not at his best and they still remained in the center of the game until the final minutes. With Redick’s coaching approach taking shape, the Lakers showed signs that they could be a legitimate threat in the West this season.

The Lakers will have a chance to bounce back on Wednesday when they travel to Cleveland to take on LeBron’s former team, the Cavaliers.

More Lakers: LeBron James’ mysterious ailment could be the cause of the drop in scoring