An interesting development has developed recently in LA-LAland. And the development in question is something that Los Angeles Lakers fans aren’t used to: a semi-losing streak.

Call it coincidence if you like, but the Lakers, ever since Ron Artest fell down the flight of stairs and sustained a concussion and an elbow injury, aren’t the same team fans and followers are accustomed to, save for Kobe Bryant’s efforts. Nonetheless, Los Angeles had a game to play Monday night against the Phoenix Suns at U.S. Airways Center. I think that this is one game that you can honestly say that the Lakers were outclassed and outhustled; Amare Stoudemire and Jared Dudley combined for 45 points, leading Phoenix to the easy 118-103 win over Los Angeles.

A 12-0 run at the end of the first quarter and start of the second put Phoenix ahead 32-23 on Leandro Barbosa’s two free throws with 10:53 left in the half. Two more at the line by Barbosa gave the Suns their biggest lead of the first half at 39-27 with 8:13 to go. Bryant’s 3-pointer, followed by his 15-footer cut it to 48-45 with 2:09 left in the half. Stoudemire scored the next six for the Suns, and after Bryant’s driving layup with 9.5 seconds left made it 54-51, Steve Nash sank two free throws with 2.7 remaining to put the Suns up 56-51o at the break.

Leading 56-50 at the half, Phoenix used a 17-4 outburst to go up 87-68 on the first of Dudley’s three 3-pointers without a miss. Nash and Jason Richardson also had 3s in the run, while Stoudemire scored four, including a driving dunk. Bryant scored nine straight Lakers points, but his driving layup at third-quarter buzzer was blocked by Robin Lopez, and the Suns led 89-77 entering the fourth quarter. Dudley and Goran Dragic sank consecutive 3s and Phoenix led 108-89 with 6:51 left in the game. By then, Bryant had sat down for good.

The Suns’ high scorer was Stoudemire with 26 points, 6 rebounds and a steal while Dudley added 19 (including three treys) with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block; Nash chipped in 16 (including 3 three-pointers) with 3 rebounds and 13 assists while Channing Frye notched a double-double, scoring 14 with 11 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block. The Lakers were led by Bryant with 34 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists while Andrew Bynum chipped in 14 with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks; Pau Gasol added 13 with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.

Phoenix (20-12) plays again on Wednesday when they host the Boston Celtics while Los Angeles (24-6) returns home to host the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night.