LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers' seven-game win streak ended Monday with a 125-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns, and Luka Doncic said his nine turnovers were to blame.
"That was my fault," Doncic said. "No way I can have nine turnovers in a game."
Doncic scored 20 points in the first quarter -- the third time in the past four games he scored 20 or more in the opening frame -- and L.A. was tied with Phoenix 31-31.
Then, things went downhill.
Doncic committed four turnovers in the second quarter, when Austin Reaves committed four of his five turnovers, as the Suns outscored the Lakers 35-21 to break the game open.
"I feel like it definitely was a different defense than other teams [play]," Doncic said. "Kind of trying to let me go score instead of creating for others. So, it was kind of confusing, but like I said, just can't have it."
Doncic's nine turnovers tied a career high for the eight-year veteran. And all nine of his turnovers resulted in steals for the Suns -- which was the most live-ball turnovers by any player in a game this season, according to ESPN Research.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Suns center Mark Williams, whom the Lakers traded for last February before rescinding the deal with the Charlotte Hornets, was the key to Phoenix making it difficult on Doncic.
"In terms of the scheme, they never went to any sort of blitz or shock or anything like that," Redick said. "Mark Williams did a great job of just being big. He's got the second-highest standing reach in the NBA. So, whether it was post-up, whether it was an off-ball thing, whether it was pick-and-roll, he just was in the middle of the paint the whole time.
"And their guards did a good job of being physical and forcing us down there, and once you're down there in that tight space, you're not going to get the ball through, and that led to a lot of turnovers."
Doncic finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Reaves scored 16 points. LeBron James finished with 10 points, 3 assists and 3 turnovers. He hit a 3-pointer with 6:51 remaining in the fourth quarter to extend his NBA record streak to 1,297 straight games scoring double digits.
"Turnovers, transition points," James said when asked to explain the loss. "And obviously, on our home floor and against a disruptive defense like that, you can't turn the ball over that much. And they were pretty much all pick-sixes. They not only turned us over, they were able to convert."
Phoenix, led by Dillon Brooks (33 points) and Collin Gillespie (28 points), outscored L.A. 28-2 in fast-break points.
The Lakers are 15-5 as the season reaches its quarter pole, but the upcoming schedule presents a challenge. L.A.'s next four opponents all have above-.500 records -- including three games in four nights in Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia on an East Coast road trip to end the week.
"You got to look at everything, everything," Redick said when asked what needs to improve to get the Lakers back on track. "Rotations, schemes, all that stuff."