The Phoenix Suns, led by Frank Vogel, easily defeated the Los Angeles Lakers at home for the seventh time in a row.
Phoenix’s starting five, four of whom finished with 20 or more points, put on a fantastic show.
Jusuf Nurkic (18 points, 22 rebounds) and Kevin Durant (22 points, seven assists) were very crucial to Phoenix’s victory.
Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen both had outstanding shooting performances, scoring six three-pointers apiece.
LeBron James (28 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (22 points, 14 rebounds) both showed their strengths in spite of the loss as the Lakers battled valiantly in the second half.
The game’s narrative
Early on, the two teams exchanged blows, but Phoenix took the lead with a 15–20 lead halfway through the first quarter.
After eight minutes, Durant’s midrange fadeaway jump shot and a corner three from Bol Bol gave the Suns a 12-point lead.
After successfully faking in the corner for two minutes, Bol Bol moved inside and made a floater to put Phoenix ahead by twenty.
In response to Rui Hachimura’s three-pointer at the end of the first quarter, Allen beat the buzzer and drained a three, giving Phoenix its highest-scoring opening twelve of the season, 28–45.
After two minutes, D’Angelo Russell made a three-pointer to trim the Suns’ lead to ten points for LA.
With six minutes remaining before halftime, Taurean Prince made back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Lakers within nine of their opponents.
With three minutes remaining in the second, Phoenix reclaimed control as Bol Bol’s driving layup put the Suns ahead by sixteen.
In the last minutes of the first half, the two teams traded baskets, and the Lakers came out on top. Russell’s deep three put them within nine points of the Suns, 63-72.
After a fantastic first twenty-four minutes, Phoenix center Nurkic entered the second half already with a double-double of twelve points and thirteen rebounds.
Austin Reeves opened the penultimate quarter with a deep three, and Durant replied right after with a triple on the other end.
Throughout, James displayed his inventiveness. Two minutes into the third quarter, he gave Davis his eighth dime, which he dropped into the net.
James quickly reduced the Suns’ lead to five points four minutes later with a wide-open three and a signature tomahawk slam on the fast break.
Phoenix center Nurkic had already finished an incredible first twenty-four minutes, finishing with a double-double of twelve points and thirteen rebounds going into the second half.
The penultimate quarter began with a deep three from Austin Reeves, to which Durant immediately answered with a triple on the other end.
James shown his creativity the entire time. He handed Davis his seventh dime two minutes into the third quarter, which he dumped into the net.
Four minutes later, James immediately cut the Suns’ advantage to five points with a wide-open three-pointer and a trademark fast break tomahawk dunk.
After three minutes, Russell made a brilliant defensive move by rushing back and swatting Devin Booker’s attempt at a layup into the bleachers.
With 84 seconds remaining, O’Neale made his sixth three-pointer of the contest to give Phoenix a 108-121 lead and almost assured the Suns’ victory.
Both teams used all of their bench players, and the Suns won their eighth straight game at home.
