Phoenix Suns face Lakers sans stars, Durant shines, but LeBron-led Lakers secure victory.
In a matchup where the Phoenix Suns missed key players Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, they fell short to the Los Angeles Lakers, 100-95, moving to a 1-1 record for the season.
The Suns, without Beal and Booker, started with Eric Gordon, Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic. Meanwhile, the Lakers, missing Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jarred Vanderbilt, fielded D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Taurean Prince, and Anthony Davis.
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The game kicked off with the Lakers taking a 7-0 lead, capitalizing on turnovers, but the Suns quickly recovered, leading 17-16 with Eric Gordon’s three-pointer prompting a Lakers timeout. Jordan Goodwin’s floater extended the Suns’ lead to double digits.
Despite shooting struggles for the Lakers and a 30-18 Suns lead at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers dominated the second quarter with a 20-5 run, taking a 38-35 lead. However, the Suns responded with a 15-2 run, finishing the first half with a 52-48 lead.
The third quarter saw Phoenix maintaining a lead, propelled by Kevin Durant’s 15 points. In the fourth, the Lakers staged a comeback, tying the game at 87-87. LeBron James took charge, scoring eight consecutive points, securing a 95-91 lead with 41 seconds remaining.
Despite Durant’s efforts, the Suns couldn’t overcome the deficit, losing 100-95. Notable performances included Durant’s 39 points, 11 rebounds, and LeBron James’ 21 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. The Suns look to bounce back in their home opener against the Utah Jazz on Saturday at the Footprint Center.