The Phoenix Suns won game 4 of the series at the Los Angeles Lakers with 100: 92 and thus regained their home advantage. After the Lakers lost the injured Anthony Davis at halftime, the guests pulled away in the third quarter. It was the Sun’s first away playoff win since May 2010.
With Davis, who went into the game already battered and acted weakly until he was eliminated due to a thigh strain, it was only enough for 6 points and 4 rebounds (2/9 FG) in 19 minutes. By far the best Laker was LeBron James (25, 10/21 FG, 12 rebounds), he was the only starter in Double Figures. Otherwise, the reservists Kyle Kuzma (11, 4/11 FG), Alex Caruso (10, 3/8 FG) and especially Marc Gasol (12, 3/5 3FG, 8 rebounds) made the best impression. Dennis Schröder stumbled offensively and got 8 points on 3/13 out of the field.
The Suns were led on points by Chris Paul (18, 9 assists, 7/15 FG), whose use was only decided shortly before the game. Devin Booker’s litter fell badly (17, 5/14 FG), Deandre Ayton raged in the zone (14 and 17). Jae Crowder (17, 6/12 FG) and Cameron Payne (13) also made a valuable contribution.
Anthony Davis (left knee) was listed as questionable on the Injury Report, but made it clear the day before that he would definitely not sit out. That’s how it happened. The same was true on the other side for Chris Paul, who was noticeably less than 100 percent in previous games due to a sprained shoulder. Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, however, was not fit on time and replaced in the starting lineup by Wesley Matthews.
For the first points of the game, Booker found Ayton under the basket, Paul sank a jumper and was ready to close early. As a result, LeBron took over and brought the guests in front with 7 quick points. Payne’s third threesome sat and gave the Suns the lead for a short time, Schröder ended an 8-0 run by Phoenix with a personal 5-0 run. Gasol’s tip-in with the buzzer gave the Lakers a 24:23 lead after twelve minutes.
Lakers without Davis have no chance against the Suns
James found Ben McLemore with a spectacular behind-the-back pass, who sank the threesome. After a one-man fastbreak, LeBron stuffed. The home side’s run ended with 10 points in a row. With the Suns, only Booker was in danger, while the Lakers got a good few minutes from the reservists. After a crowd threesome, it was Phoenix’s turn again, and the previously ice-cold sniper even stepped up. It went back and forth Alex Caruso found LeBron on the backboard. The last word at half-time was the Suns, during which Davis, who was previously pale, held his left leg in pain after a rough landing. 54:50 Phoenix.
In the second half, Kuzma started for Davis, who never came back. In a foul at a crowd dunker, Kuzma did not fit in optimally. After a layup by Ayton, the guests even led by 10. Ayton dominated Andre Drummond by the bar and thread, Kuzma had several unfortunate scenes. Schröder played good defense, but his own throw did not fall at all. Payne dissected the Lakers defense several times, the lead grew to 16 points before the final section. LeBron only managed one field goal in the quarter.
The Lakers brought Schröder and James straight back to work on a comeback. LeBron tried everything and the champion started a little run. Marc Gasol shortened to -11 from a distance, Bridges answered. Nevertheless, the Suns got nervous again, Paul returned to the field at 91:81 and hit an important jumper. Gasol hit another three, James just a free throw, Schröder missed an open layup and Crowder took care of the dagger from the corner.
Game 5 takes place on Wednesday night in Phoenix.
Lakers vs. Suns: The voices of the game
Chris Paul (Suns): “That means a lot to us, we had a great fight. A lot of them are battered, that’s what the playoffs look like. The coach told me before the game that I should sit out, I said: No way! I love it, play this game. “
Kyle Kuzma (Lakers): “We had to find out during the game what our offensive DNA looks like without AD. The defensive wasn’t the problem. We’re still optimistic in the locker room. We have to find solutions and we will be ready for Game 5.”
The most important statistics
Los Angeles Lakers (7) vs. Phoenix Suns (2) 92:100 (BOXSCORE), Serie: 2-2
- The third run from the Lakers’ point of view is graciously described as being mixed. The bare numbers: 15:27 points, 3/16 from the field (18.8 percent), 0/7 from a distance, 1 assist, 6 turnover. Top scorer was Kyle Kuzma with 4 points. The fact that the Suns only scored 12 more points was ensured by the equally devastating three-way quota of the guests (0/7).
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Deandre Ayton’s odds remain impressive even after Game 4. After 11 out of 15 in game 3, the second win in the series was 6 out of 8. Seen over the series, it is almost 81 percent.
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At the beginning the Lakers fired cheerfully from a distance, more than half of the throws in the first quarter were taken from the perimeter (13 of 24) – with manageable success (30.8 percent). The proportion of three players remained largely stable as the game progressed, the rate only improved slightly (32.5 percent). The Suns, on the other hand, learned from their lack of accuracy from a distance (28.6 percent) and increasingly shifted their game closer to the basket.
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It was noticeable that initially there was no penetration to the basket on either side, which resulted in extremely few free throws. In the first quarter there were only 4 combined, afterwards Booker in particular became more aggressive (6/7 at break). In the end, both teams took 21 freebies each.
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So far, it has not been Jae Crowder’s series: this time, too, his first three missed miles, at this point he was 2/21 in this year’s playoffs and 9/50 since game 3 of last year’s finals. Then he finally met two in a row. In the end it was 3/8, including the decisive three.
The stars of the game: Chris Paul
In view of his damaged shoulder, Paul’s performance cannot be rated highly enough. He didn’t succeed by far, but he clearly had a positive impact on the game, playing 9 assists with 0 losses (his sixth playoff game with numbers like this, which overtook Magic Johnson and is number one since such numbers in 1977 recorded). Even in crunch time he was there with a jumper and a steal. Also strong: Ayton and Crowder.
Flop of the game: Anthony Davis
From Davis’s point of view, the evening couldn’t have gone any worse. In the 19 minutes in the first half, in which he was already noticeably not at 100 percent, he did not succeed, whether open threesomes or his favorite throws from the midrange. The Lakers lost his minutes with -8, in this state he is not much of a help to the champion. His state of health could decide the series. Offensive weak: Dennis Schröder.
The scene of the game
In quarter two it was time for the LeBron highlight show. First the magic pass to McLemore, then the solo across the entire field and finally the monstrous dunk after Caruso feed. The elegance with which the King floated in the air was worthy of all honor.
Suns vs. Lakers: The games of the series – Stand: 2: 2
| game | date | Time | Home | Away | Result |
| 1 | 23. May | 9.30 p.m. | Suns | Lakers | 99:90 |
| 2 | 26. May | 4 o’clock | Suns | Lakers | 102:109 |
| 3 | 28. Mai | 4 o’clock | Lakers | Suns | 109:95 |
| 4 | 30. May | 9.30 p.m. | Lakers | Suns | 92:100 |
| 5 | 2. June | 4 o’clock | Suns | Lakers | |
| 6* | 4. June | tba | Lakers | Suns | |
| 7* | 6. June | tba | Suns | Lakers |
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