The Phoenix Suns have won a comfortable win at the Los Angeles Lakers. While there was no stopping LeBron James, the superstar had no help. Phoenix won easily with 108:88.
Los Angeles Lakers (16-16) – Phoenix Suns (25-5) 88:108 (BOXSCORE)
While LeBron James (34, 7 rebounds) scored the most points of any player on the field, the Lakers’ supporting cast was abysmal. While James hit 13/19 from the field, the rest sunk a measly 30.8 percent. The final quarter was emblematic, when only LeBron recorded three field goals, while no other Laker got the ball through the trap until garbage time.
It would have looked even grimmer without Russell Westbrook (22, 10/20, 10 rebounds, 7 turnovers), especially Talen Horton-Tucker (3, 1/13 FG, 0/8 trebles) and Isaiah Thomas (3, 1/11 FG , 0/6 threes) hit absolutely nothing. The only ray of hope was Trevor Ariza (12, 4/4), who has not missed a shot in his two appearances so far.
The picture with the Suns is completely different. Nine players scored double-digit points, led by Devin Booker (24, 6/11 threes, 9 rebounds, 7 assists), who had the hot hand. Chris Paul had 11 points and 9 assists, the two Bigs Deandre Ayton (19, 9/11, 11 boards) and JaVale McGee (10 and 10) wrote double-doubles.
At the Lakers, Horton-Tucker and Dwight Howard (DNP) returned from the Corona protocol and initially the hosts were able to balance the game. James kept pulling to the basket, which was necessary as LA rarely hit anything from long range.
LeBron James against Phoenix alone on the floor
That changed with the arrival of Ariza, the forward netted all of his three triples in the first half in his second game of the season, providing relief. Phoenix, on the other hand, kept looking for Ayton and Booker was also accurate. Otherwise, the Suns missed a number of open throws (3/22 threes in HZ one) – and yet the guests took a 54:52 lead into the break.
Things got better after the change, the first four shots were spot on, Phoenix opened with an 11:2 run and three booker triples. A few Westbrook drives got the Lakers back into the game. This good phase was interrupted by Carmelo Anthony’s ejectionwho was upset about a missed whistle and thus picked up his second T.
The flow of the game was gone again, the Lakers temporarily played a lineup of Rajon Rondo, Westbrook, Thomas, THT and Ariza – with little success. Phoenix managed the double-digit lead with almost no problems – without shining too much. Almost nothing worked for the Lakers, it was almost symbolic how no Laker wanted to throw at the beginning of the fourth quarter and THT produced a nasty airball completely openly from the corner with the clock running down.
Only James defended himself, but the almost 37-year-old also needed a short break (a good 2:30 minutes) and Phoenix used this for an 8-0 run, which Paul orchestrated and made it 100-80. A short time later, Lakers substitute coach David Fizdale also raised the white flag.