Lakers are done before fourth quarter in 119-99 loss to Suns

Suns 119, Lakers 99

The Lakers fell to 0-2 on the season, losing their second game in as many nights in Phoenix to the Suns (1-0).

Phoenix jumped out to an early lead, scoring 33 points in the first quarter. The Lakers responded with a strong second quarter with 31 points, but fell apart in the third by yielding 39 to the Suns.

The game was all but over before the fourth quarter began.

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 31 points in 28 minutes, making 11 of 25 shots.

The only Lakers starter close to double figures was Wesley Johnson (nine points), who saw the officials take away one away on review at the end of the third quarter.

Ed Davis contributed 14 off the bench, along with nine rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. Wayne Ellington, returning from a concussion that caused him to miss the first game, added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The Lakers shot 43% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range (4 of 13).

The Suns were led by Isaiah Thomas off the bench with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including five makes in seven tries from three-point range.

Marcus Morris, starting for the suspended P.J. Tucker (off-season DUI), scored 21, making five three-pointers.

The Suns shot 54.9% from the field and 50% from behind the arc (16 of 32).

Eric Bledsoe was ejected in the third quarter for disagreeing with the officials. He finished with 16 points and nine assists for the Suns.

Carlos Boozer had a difficult night (eight turnovers) and Jeremy Lin struggled to contribute, scoring six points with one assist.

The Lakers played without Steve Nash (back), Nick Young (thumb), Ryan Kelly (hamstring) and rookie Julius Randle, who broke his leg in the team’s season opener on Tuesday.

After a day off on Thursday, the Lakers host the Clippers (0-0) at Staples Center on Friday. The Suns play next when hosting the San Antonio Spurs (1-0) on Friday.

Suns 98, Lakers 73 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers hit five early free throws in the third quarter to narrow their deficit to six points, which proved to be the team’s highlight of the period.

The Suns went on to score at will, while the Lakers struggled to find a second scorer to complement Kobe Bryant.

Phoenix have shot 58.3% from the field and 54.2% from three-point range. Marcus Morris leads the Suns with 21 points, making five of eight from long range.

Bryant has 31 points in 28 minutes on 11 of25 shooting, but no other Laker was in double figures.

The Lakers made 40.9% of their shots, including 3 of 9 from three-point range.

Eric Bledsoe was ejected with 30 seconds left in the quarter after picking up his second technical foul for showing his frustration after Bryant tied him up for a jump ball. Bledsoe finished with 16 points and nine assists in 26 minutes.

Suns 59, Lakers 50 (halftime)

The Lakers look much improved in the second quarter.

Wayne Ellington, who struggled terribly to hit shots through the preseason, hit three jump shots to help close the Lakers’ deficit to six points.

Kobe Bryant returned from the bench, where he sat icing a sore shoulder, to push the Lakers even closer but the team stalled after Bryant’s jumper made it 43-39 with 6 1/2 minutes left.

Eric Bledsoe scored seven straight to push the Suns’ lead back to double digits -- the Lakers finished the half down nine.

Bryant led all scorers with 19 points in 16 minutes, shooting 7 of 15 from the field.

Ed Davis contributed nine points and five rebounds off the bench.

Isaiah Thomas scored 13 for the Suns, missing one shot in six attempts.

The Lakers shot 41.7% from the field in the half. The Suns also scored easily, shooting 52.5% from the field and 52.9% from the three-point line.

Suns 33, Lakers 19 (end of first quarter)

The Lakers’ offense was anemic in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns.

The team managed only 15 points on 28.6% shooting (6 of 21) from the field.

Kobe Bryant scored seven points while Jeremy Lin contributed four.

The Suns shot 48.1% from the field and 46.2% from long range, led by Marcus Morris with nine points. Morris made a trio of three-pointers in five attempts.

Guard Isaiah Thomas had eight points off the bench in less than five minutes.

Wayne Ellington returned from a concussion after missing the season opener. He didn’t score in two minutes.

Pregame

The Lakers (0-1) play their second game of the season on Wednesday night, visiting the Phoenix Suns (0-0) for their home opener.

After losing rookie power forward Julius Randle to a broken leg on Tuesday in a loss to the Houston Rockets, the Lakers will need to regroup quickly against a Phoenix team that won 48 games last season.

The Lakers will play without Steve Nash (back), Nick Young (thumb), Ryan Kelly (hamstring) and Randle. Wayne Ellington is questionable (concussion).

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.