The Phoenix Suns have achieved a respectable success with the Los Angeles Lakers. Chris Paul and his team won 114: 104 at the Staples Center, even if LeBron James and Dennis Schröder fought as best they could. Suns star Devin Booker is already flying in the third quarter.
Los Angeles Lakers (24-12) – Phoenix Suns (23-11) 104:114 (BOXSCORE)
In a heated game, Booker was the focus of attention several times. The All-Star had already clashed with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope several times in the first half, and KCP conceded a Flagant foul. In the third quarter there were more arguments between the two, Booker conceded two technical fouls in a row and then had to leave the field. The shooting guard had probably exchanged a few niceties with the referees.
Phoenix went off the court as the winner anyway because they were the more homogeneous team. Led by the prudent Chris Paul (8 points, 1/4 FG, 10 assists) six players scored double digits, with Dario Saric being the best scorer with 21 points. But Mikal Bridges (19, 6/10 FG) and Deandre Ayton (17) also played their part in the success, even if the latter was no longer used in the fourth quarter.
Another strong game from LeBron James was enough for the hosts, who also set defensive highlights like this block against Ayton, Not. The King had 38 points (16/24 FG) and 6 assists, but apart from Dennis Schröder (17, 6/17, 6 assists), Talen Horton-Hucker (16) and Markieff Morris (12) hardly any Laker achieved normal form. Marc Gasol (corona protocol) and Kyle Kuzma (heel) are missing for a short time alongside the long-term injured Anthony Davis.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James and Dennis Schröder are not enough
Especially after the booker ejection, Phoenix was leading in the third quarter with 7, too little came from the hosts, so that the Suns slowly but surely pulled away in the final section. Role players like Saric or Abdel Nader (8, 3 blocks) looked fresher, it took the hot hand of James (three threes in a row) for the Lakers to have something like hope in the end.
She came too late. When Schröder first forgave a dunk and Bridges did better for a few seconds, things were over. The victory pushes the Suns into second place in the west.
Although the guests led in the first quarter with 11 points and sank a strong 60 percent from a distance, the Lakers bank around the strong Horton Tucker brought the hosts back into the game. Schröder also tried a lot, even if everything did not work out. His scoring was important for LA, Phoenix was only able to break away in the fourth quarter.
The big problem for the Lakers was once again the threesome, which again fell poorly. In the end, James’ three threesomes improved the picture a bit (11/31, 35 percent), previously the hosts had stayed below 30 percent for almost the entire 48 minutes, while Phoenix netted 16 of the 29 attempts (54 percent).
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