PALM DESERT, Calif. -- — Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Bronny James added eight while the Los Angeles Lakers lost their preseason opener 103-81 to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night with LeBron James and Luka Doncic sitting out.

James is progressing deliberately in his return from a minor nerve injury to begin his record 23rd NBA season, while Doncic is also ramping up with caution after his busy summer playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket.

Both superstars watched from courtside while the rest of the Lakers lost to the new-look Suns, who jumped to a 27-point lead in the third quarter.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game that Doncic will play at some point in the preseason, and he is hopeful LeBron James also will get at least one preseason game. Redick wants one preseason game with what he called “a dress rehearsal” for the regular season with the Lakers’ full roster.

Bronny James hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for his only field goal. He went 1 for 7 on 3-point attempts.

Devin Booker scored 24 points and Dillon Brooks added 10 in his first game for Phoenix, which acquired the veteran agitator from Houston in the seven-team trade of Kevin Durant in July.

The Lakers opened their preseason in the same Coachella Valley arena where Bronny James first played alongside his famous father in Los Angeles' two preseason games here one year ago.

With 40-year-old LeBron watching from courtside this time, Bronny was in the Lakers' first substitution group, and he played nearly 23 minutes. Bronny, who turns 21 years old on Monday, didn't make a shot in the first half and occasionally got beat on defense, but he hit five free throws and worked to run the Lakers' offense.

Reaves led the Lakers' starters, which included newcomers Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia with Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. Ayton had eight rebounds and just one point while taking only two shots in 18 minutes.

Grayson Allen added 13 points for Phoenix.

The Lakers' preseason continues Sunday against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Oso Ighodaro vs. Deandre Ayton (Rui Hachimura gains possession)	0	0
11:38	Austin Reaves misses 23-foot three point step back jumpshot	0	0
11:35	Jake LaRavia offensive rebound	0	0
11:29	Rui Hachimura misses driving floating jump shot	0	0
11:26	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	0	0
11:25	Austin Reaves makes 27-foot three point jumper (Deandre Ayton assists)	3	0
11:07	Jarred Vanderbilt blocks Devin Booker 's 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	3	0
11:02	Deandre Ayton defensive rebound	3	0
10:50	Rui Hachimura misses 27-foot three point jumper	3	0
10:46	Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound	3	0
10:33	Ryan Dunn misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	3	0
10:31	Devin Booker offensive rebound	3	0
10:29	Grayson Allen makes 25-foot three point jumper (Devin Booker assists)	3	3
10:13	Austin Reaves makes driving layup	5	3
9:55	Dillon Brooks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Devin Booker assists)	5	6
9:41	Grayson Allen personal foul	5	6
9:35	Grayson Allen blocks Jake LaRavia 's 8-foot driving layup	5	6
9:35	Lakers offensive team rebound	5	6
9:33	Rui Hachimura makes 7-foot jumper (Jake LaRavia assists)	7	6
9:33	Ryan Dunn shooting foul	7	6
9:33	Rui Hachimura misses free throw 1 of 1	7	6
9:31	Ryan Dunn defensive rebound	7	6
9:22	Devin Booker makes 13-foot two point shot	7	8
9:08	Dillon Brooks personal foul	7	8
8:55	Deandre Ayton offensive goaltending turnover	7	8
8:44	Grayson Allen bad pass (Rui Hachimura steals)	7	8
8:27	Rui Hachimura makes 15-foot two point shot	9	8
8:16	Jarred Vanderbilt personal foul	9	8
8:10	Deandre Ayton blocks Grayson Allen 's 3-foot driving layup	9	8
8:09	Suns offensive team rebound	9	8
8:05	Jake LaRavia shooting foul	9	8
8:05	Devin Booker makes free throw 1 of 2	9	9
8:05	Bronny James enters the game for Jarred Vanderbilt	9	9
8:05	Dalton Knecht enters the game for Jake LaRavia	9	9
8:05	Devin Booker makes free throw 2 of 2	9	10
7:48	Ryan Dunn personal foul	9	10
7:37	Austin Reaves back court turnover	9	10
7:28	Grayson Allen misses 27-foot three point jumper	9	10
7:25	Austin Reaves defensive rebound	9	10
7:14	Dalton Knecht misses 23-foot three point jumper	9	10
7:12	Suns defensive team rebound	9	10
7:05	Grayson Allen makes 23-foot three point jumper (Devin Booker assists)	9	13
6:45	Deandre Ayton misses 3-foot hook shot	9	13
6:43	Grayson Allen defensive rebound	9	13
6:32	Grayson Allen makes 2-foot layup (Oso Ighodaro assists)	9	15
6:31	Lakers Full timeout	9	15
6:31	Collin Gillespie enters the game for Grayson Allen	9	15
6:17	Oso Ighodaro personal foul	9	15
6:17	Deandre Ayton misses free throw 1 of 2	9	15
6:17	Lakers offensive team rebound	9	15
6:17	Deandre Ayton makes free throw 2 of 2	10	15
5:54	Collin Gillespie misses 25-foot three point jumper	10	15
5:52	Dalton Knecht defensive rebound	10	15
5:47	Dillon Brooks shooting foul	10	15
5:47	Austin Reaves makes free throw 1 of 2	11	15
5:47	Nate Williams enters the game for Deandre Ayton	11	15
5:47	Jaxson Hayes enters the game for Rui Hachimura	11	15
5:47	Austin Reaves makes free throw 2 of 2	12	15
5:38	Jaxson Hayes shooting foul	12	15
5:38	Oso Ighodaro misses free throw 1 of 2	12	15
5:38	Suns offensive team rebound	12	15
5:38	Nick Smith Jr. enters the game for Austin Reaves	12	15
5:38	Oso Ighodaro misses free throw 2 of 2	12	15
5:37	Suns offensive team rebound	12	15
5:37	foul	12	15
5:35	Nate Williams blocks Devin Booker 's 16-foot jumper	12	15
5:35	Suns offensive team rebound	12	15
5:29	Ryan Dunn makes 1-foot two point shot (Collin Gillespie assists)	12	17
5:09	Bronny James misses 16-foot step back jumpshot	12	17
5:07	Ryan Dunn defensive rebound	12	17
5:02	Oso Ighodaro misses two point shot	12	17
5:00	Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound	12	17
4:47	Jaxson Hayes offensive foul	12	17
4:47	Jaxson Hayes turnover	12	17
4:47	Royce O'Neale enters the game for Ryan Dunn	12	17
4:39	Collin Gillespie misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot	12	17
4:37	Lakers defensive team rebound	12	17
4:20	Bronny James misses driving floating jump shot	12	17
4:18	Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound	12	17
4:12	Devin Booker misses driving floating jump shot	12	17
4:02	Collin Gillespie personal foul	12	17
4:02	Bronny James makes free throw 1 of 2	13	17
4:02	Grayson Allen enters the game for Devin Booker	13	17
4:02	Nick Richards enters the game for Dillon Brooks	13	17
4:02	Nigel Hayes enters the game for Oso Ighodaro	13	17
4:02	Bronny James misses free throw 2 of 2	13	17
4:00	Nigel Hayes defensive rebound	13	17
3:50	Collin Gillespie misses 9-foot two point shot	13	17
3:48	Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound	13	17
3:39	Nick Richards shooting foul	13	17
3:39	Jaxson Hayes makes free throw 1 of 2	14	17
3:39	Jaxson Hayes misses free throw 2 of 2	14	17
3:35	Collin Gillespie defensive rebound	14	17
3:20	Collin Gillespie lost ball turnover (Nate Williams steals)	14	17
3:16	Nate Williams bad pass (Grayson Allen steals)	14	17
3:13	Royce O'Neale misses 26-foot three point shot	14	17
3:08	Nigel Hayes offensive rebound	14	17
3:07	Nick Richards makes 1-foot dunk (Collin Gillespie assists)	14	19
3:07	Dalton Knecht shooting foul	14	19
3:07	Jake LaRavia enters the game for Bronny James	14	19
3:07	Nick Richards makes free throw 1 of 1	14	20
3:04	Nick Smith Jr. bad pass (Royce O'Neale steals)	14	20
2:59	Collin Gillespie makes 26-foot three point jumper (Nigel Hayes assists)	14	23
2:40	Nick Smith Jr. misses 24-foot three point jumper	14	23
2:36	Nigel Hayes defensive rebound	14	23
2:33	Royce O'Neale makes 26-foot three point shot (Collin Gillespie assists)	14	26
2:31	Lakers Full timeout	14	26
2:17	Dalton Knecht misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	14	26
2:12	Grayson Allen defensive rebound	14	26
2:05	Nick Richards makes 1-foot dunk (Royce O'Neale assists)	14	28
1:47	Jake LaRavia traveling	14	28
1:47	Austin Reaves enters the game for Dalton Knecht	14	28
1:47	Jarred Vanderbilt enters the game for Nate Williams	14	28
1:30	Nick Richards misses layup	14	28
1:29	Suns offensive team rebound	14	28
1:29	Jaxson Hayes kicked ball violation	14	28
1:23	Jaxson Hayes blocks Grayson Allen 's 2-foot driving dunk	14	28
1:20	Austin Reaves defensive rebound	14	28
1:14	Austin Reaves makes 3-foot two point shot	16	28
55.1	Grayson Allen misses 26-foot three point jumper	16	28
47.9	Nigel Hayes offensive rebound	16	28
46.4	Royce O'Neale makes 27-foot three point jumper (Nick Richards assists)	16	31
28.9	Jarred Vanderbilt misses 25-foot three point jumper	16	31
26.5	Suns defensive team rebound	16	31
3.3	Collin Gillespie misses 25-foot three point jumper	16	31
3.3	Jake LaRavia defensive rebound	16	31
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	16	31

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Acrisure Arena

Palm Springs, CA

Date & Time

2:00 AM, October 4, 2025

Coverage

Spectrum Sports Net, Spectrum Sports Net +, Arizona's Family 3TV, Suns Live, NBA TV

Attendance

9,122

Referees

Karl Lane, Scott Twardoski, Danielle Scott

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	35	24	.593	W1
Phoenix	34	26	.567	W1
Golden State	31	29	.517	L1
LA Clippers	27	31	.466	L3
Sacramento	14	47	.230	W1

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Lakers lose their preseason opener 103-81 to Suns with LeBron James, Luka Doncic sitting out

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