Will Dwight Howard’s Shoulder Injury Derail L.A. Lakers’ Resurgence?

The Los Angeles Lakers blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead and fell to the Phoenix Suns 92-86, a loss that snapped L.A.'s three-game winning streak. To make matters worse, Dwight Howard suffered another shoulder injury and had to leave the game during Phoenix's fourth-quarter rally.

Los Angeles struggled all game long with ball security, racking up 19 turnovers.

The Lakers shot poorly, just over 42 percent from the floor and under 30 percent from the three-point line. That was mostly thanks to a rough night from Metta World Peace, a rare inefficient night from Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant's poor shooting down the stretch.

Can't blame Kobe now. Metta can't buy a shot, Steve Nash can't run the offense, Dwight can't stop getting injured, Pau can't stop crying.

— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) January 31, 2013 While they did lose their winning streak, they did see another streak continue involving their road woes.

Lakers blow 13-point 4th quarter lead vs. Suns to lose 8th straight road game, 92-86.

— Beyond The Buzzer(@BeyondTheBuzzer) January 31, 2013 This loss stings a little more because it is the first of a seven-game road trip that will keep the Lakers away from home until mid-February.



The fourth-quarter collapse was already under way when Howard was injured, but it jumped into overdrive with the center out of the game.

It was an absolute Greek tragedy for the Lakers in the fourth. Nothing went right. Absolute dumpster fire.

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) January 31, 2013 Suns finished the game on a 19-8 run after Dwight Howard got hurt.

— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) January 31, 2013 It seems like the most obvious thought a logical person can have, but the Lakers desperately need Howard when things start to fall apart. He's there to grab rebounds, and as the team's best defensive player, ...