2023-10-27 07:41:00
The duel between LeBron James and Kevin Durant goes to the King! The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 100:95 thanks to a final spurt in the last quarter.
Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) – Phoenix Suns 100:95 (1-1) (BOXSCORE)
After over 1,775 days, Lebron James and Kevin Durant met again in a competitive game: Durant ended up with 39 points and 11 rebounds, Lebron put up 21 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Even in their old age, both stars still know how to put their stamp on a game. The better ending came for the Lakers, who beat the Suns 100:95 at the Staples Center.
© getty
Suns vs. Lakers: Weak final quarter ruins Durant’s gala performance
The Suns had to do without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, and the game got off to a slow start without the two stars. After simple transition points from D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers took a 7-0 lead. After more than two minutes, Josh Okogie hit a three-pointer from the corner and scored the first Phoenix points. Using offensive rebounds and a very strong defense, Phoenix turned up the heat more and more, and an incredibly heavy Durant midranger gave them a 30:18 lead after the first quarter.
As weak as the Lakers came out of the first quarter, they started the second period just as well: The comeback was crowned by an Anthony Davis three-pointer that gave Los Angeles a 36:33 lead. An intense game developed in which Durant fought almost alone against the Lakers with a strong LeBron James and Davis.
After three quarters, Durant had 30 points and led the Suns to an 84-72 lead. But then came the slump: The Suns only managed eleven points in the final period, while LeBron James took over for the Lakers; the 38-year-old scored 10 of his 21 points in the 4th quarter. In the final minute, James broke through the Suns defense twice for two lay-ups, securing LA the win.
© getty
The top of the game: Kevin Durant (Suns)
Kevin Durant is aging like a fine wine. Even at 35, the two-time Finals MVP still knows how to carry a team on his shoulders. In the end, the forward had 39 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists. Although there wasn’t much going on from behind the three-point line (1/5 3PT), Durant was difficult to stop within the zone and was particularly efficient from his beloved midrange.
The flop of the game: The Suns in the 4th quarter
The Phoenix Suns entered the fourth quarter with an 84:72 lead. 12 minutes later, Durant and Co. only had eleven more points on their account and lost the last section with a crash of 11:28 and with it the game. “Durant and Co.” However, that’s probably the wrong wording: The superstar scored nine of the eleven points, while the rest of the Phoenix team remained almost entirely pointless.
Lakers vs. Suns: The stats leaders at a glance
Category Lakers Suns Points Davis (30) Durant (39) Rebounds Davis (12) Durant (11) Assists James (9) Allen (4) Steals Davis, Vincent (3 each) Nurkic (3) Blocks Davis (3) Durant, Little, Okogie (1 each)
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