Lakers vs Suns Game 1: result, stats, highlights
Final score | Lakers 90 - 99 Suns
Match summary
The Phoenix Suns take Game 1 at home, after an 11 year playoff absence. Devin Booker and and defense carried the home side to a 99-90 win in the Phoenix Suns Arena.
The Suns never seemed to waver after jumping out to an early lead early in the first quarter. Closest LA came was in the second quarter when Chris Paul went to the locker room with what turned out to be a right shoulder contusion.
It was a case of friendly fire, after Paul collided with a teammate chasing after a rebound and hit the deck holding his shoulder.
The Lakers went on a 6-0 run shortly after, but Devin Booker took control and calmed the second seeded Suns down. Paul returned to the game before halftime, but there were visible signs the shoulder was bothering him as he struggled to keep his dribble with the right hand and his shot seemed to change with the shoulder nagging him.
Booker took the wheel in his first ever playoff game and dropping 34 points along with 7 rebound and 8 assists. Deandre Ayton won the battle of the big men against Anthony Davis, grabbing double digits in the first quarter and finishing with 21 points and 16 rebounds.
Davis and LeBron were limited all night, as we can see signs the two still getting back into form after lengthy spells on the sidelines. James had just 18 points, Davis had a frustrating night scoring just 13 points going 5-16 from the field.
The Suns defense held strong as the Lakers were unable to make a late game run to get back in the ball game.
The big question going into Game 2 is how will that shoulder affect Chris Paul for the rest of the series? The good news for the Suns is they have a 1-0 lead and a couple days for Paul to shake off that shoulder injury.
It's all over from Phoenix. The Suns take game one keeping James and Davis quiet.
Carruso with a corner three and that will be the last basket of the game.
Under a minute to go in Arizona.
Crowder on the turn around from outside the lane.
2:30 to go in the fourth quarter.
Carruso in the corner for three.
Ayton to the line, and he has been big for Phoenix. Hits one of two.
Bridges on the spot up in the paint
Ayton on the tip in for the Suns
Davis hits one of two from the line
Timeout in Phoenix with a little over five to go in the fourth.
Not if Booker has anything to do with it. He hits a sky high floater from the lane.
Schroder from the top of the key. Are the Lakers going to make a run midway through the fourth?
Davis has been quiet all game long, gets the mid range jumper to go and 1.. FT made
Booker on the crossover and the floater off the glass.
Paul on the fader outside the lane
Eight minutes to go in the fourth
The call has been overturned, as the refs review and rule no contact on the three pointer.
Johnson on the three ball. A review is undeway as we take another break.
9 minutes are left in the fourth. It's starting to heat up in Suns Arena.
Techs called on Carruso, and Harrell. Cam Payne has been ejected after picking up two techs.
Crazy sequence after the missed free throw, LeBron comes up injured after a collision with Paul. After that a dust up between Carruso and Payne, Harrell came in to intervene and barrells over Payne. Benches cleared and it's under review now.
LeBron makes ammends with a steal, scored and the foul, going to the line but misses the and one opp
James got swiped on the three ball, and will goes to the line hitting one of three
Carruso with a jumper,
Harrell connects from the paint.
Booker hit a jumper to end the quarter. And then started the fourth with a three ball.
End of the third quarter from Phoenix, the Suns up big going into the fourth.
Booker back to the line and knocks down two.
Matthews sinks the deuce from close range
Booker drops one of two.
Booker to the line, drops both
Johnson fouled on the drive. Goes to the line and hits both
Davis on the mid range jumper
Payne drops the three from the near side
Schroder off the dribble lays in it up and in
Drummond on the finish down low.
LeBron going to the line, hits both. He's been quiet in the second half.
Schroder goes to the rack on the left side and finishes with the right.
6 minutes to go in the third quarter.
Bridges on the follow up and the Lakers need a timeout
Crowder hits the jumper from the free throw line.
KCP from the far corner
Crowder from the line, hits two of two.
Ayton with an easy deuce off the alley hoop
Paul with a midrange jumper
Ayton down low
Bridges with a triple try.
Schroder in transition, off the steal.
Booker strings a three from the top of the key
Drummond goes to the line and hits one of two
We are back in play at Phoenix Suns Arena.
The question for Paul is how will the shoulder affect him in the second half and throughout the series?
The big story of the first half was Chris Paul leaving the game with a shoulder injury, and then coming back
Booker leads all scorers with 17 first half points. Ayton started with 10 quick first quarter points.
The first half is all over here from Phoenix Suns Arena. The Suns go to the break up by 8 points.
Caldewell-Pope from a step inside the line.
Under a minute to go in the first half from Phoenix
Johnson in the far corner drops the long ball.
Davis dunk after the dump of from Schroder.
Davis hits one of two at the line
Drummond on the follow.
Booker going back to the rack and the Suns lead by 12
Booker with the jumper inside with a hand in his face. He's got 15
Drummond splits two free throws
Ayton inside with the finish he's been the best in the first half for the Suns
Caldwell-Pope goes to the line and hits both
Paul is back and in the game for the Suns after being diagnosed with a right shoulder contusion.
Great news for the Suns, Paul is back from the locker room and looks ready to return to the game.
Phoenix seems to have settled down after givng up a 6-0 run after the Paul injury
Ayton on the follow and the Lakers need a timeout.
Booker on the hesitation in transition finishes with a two handed jam
Booker hits the mid range jumper, stops the 6-0 Lakers run
Harrell hitting the boards, gets the foul and goes back to the line where he hits one of two
Harrell make the and 1
LeBron finds Harrell down low in transition.
Harrell to the line hits two of two.
Not a good sign for Chris Paul, who looks like he's in a lot pain. We'll keep you posted on any updates we get.
LeBron off the follow in transition. And bad news for the Suns as Chris Paul stays on the floor holding his right shouler as we go to a timeout in Phoenix.
Saric this time on the floater in the lane with two quick buckets
Saric on the tip after the Payne missed jumper
Horton-Tucker with a tough layup from the left side
Johson get to the bucket and finshes
Carruso with the drive on the right side to open the second quarter.
We are through one quarter in Phoenix, with the Suns on top after the first 12 minutes. Ayton the top performer with 10 points
Harrell responds with a quick bucket on the other end
Booker with a tough shot around the basket
Harrell slams in down after the dump off from LeBron
JOhnson drains a three from the near side. Suns lead by 9
Davis showing his range with a long two.
Payne to the basket finishes on the reverse.
Schroder hits two FTs, he's off to a nice start
Booker down low posting up and finishing
The Crowder three was ruled a two point basket
Crowder for three from the top of the key!
Ayton another bucket, he's in double digits.
Booker with a slam off the TO by the Lakers
Ayton in transition showing some speed and the soft finish. He's got 8 points
Davis on the big dunk out of the timeout
Paul drops a three ball and Vogel and the Lakers want a timeout five minutes into the first quarter.
Ayton again down low for a quick six points
James with back to back triples, he's got 8
Bridges from downtown
Drummond cleaning up the air ball from KCP and finishes underneath
Ayton with back to back buckets in the paint
Drummond with a close range bucket.
Ayton off the lob, with an easy deuce
Mid range jumper for James on the baseline
Schroder to the line hits one of two
Booker's first points and the Suns first points from the deep corner
Schroder with the games first bucket from the elbow.
Anthony Davis had a huge game against the Suns in the last meeting between these two teams. His 42 points made a statement that he was back form his injury and ready for the playoffs
The teams are being announced over the load speakers at Phoenix Arena, and we are are just moments away from tip here from Arizona.
According to bet365.com the Suns are a two point favorite at home. The over under has been set at 213.5
Beat LA Chants being sang around the arena in Pheonix. What a sweet sound it is to have the fans back in the stands
LeBron is facing one of his best friends on the other side of the floor, Chris Paul who he has been playing since the two were in high school
There are fans in the stands in Phoenix, although capacity has been limited.
Suns coach Monty Wiliams response to doubts about who is the better side coming into Game 1, "Did anybody think we were going to win 51 games this year? In a shortened season? Don't think so. So why would we listen to those people now?"
The Wizards and the 76ers are locked in a heated battle late in the fourth. As it stands the 6ers are up four with seven minutes to go
LA's record does not speak to how dangerous this team is. Plagued by injuries the Lakers had to make their way to the Playoffs via the Play-In tournament, but despite being a seven seed are still the one of the favorites in the West
The Suns incredible 51-21 season has been rewarded with a first round matchup with one of the favorites to lift the title and the end of the post season.
Hello everyone and welcome to the Phoenix Suns Arena where we are just under and hour away from tipping off one of the most fascinating series in this years first round of the NBA Playoffs
Hello everyone and welcome to Phoenix as we get set to tip off Game 1 in the Western Conference playoffs first round from Phoenix Suns Arena. AS English will keep you covered with live updates, scores, stats and highlights as the LA Lakers take on the Suns.
The Lakers were the headliners of the Play-In tournament after their season was constantly being interrupted by injuries to their stars. Anthony Davis was the biggest absence throughout the regular season after suffering a calf injury. Davis missed exactly half the year but is back to full force at the right time for Frank Vogels side.
LeBron James was also sidelined for a good portion of the final stretch of the season. An ankle injury suffered in April kept James out until the final week of the 72 game season. Perhaps the Lakers were conserving their star for the playoffs. But both seem well rested and ready for a repeat run.
James is the Lakers top scorer with 25 ppg, to go along with his 7.7 rebounds and 7.8 assists a night.
The Suns are perhaps the surprise of the regular season. After finishing as the two seed in the West they have been rewarded with a match up against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The Suns are in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, and have got there under the wings of veteran point guard Chris Paul. Paul has seemingly been rejuvenated after signing in sunny Pheonix this offseason.
Devin Booker is one of the top scorers in the league at 25.6 points a night, while Chris Paul follows with 16.4 ppg to go along with his 9 assists per game.
The Suns beat the Lakers in the first two matchups of the year, but LA got the better of the Suns in the last game of the season series winning 123-110 at the Staples Center two weeks ago. Davis had 42 in that game, and will be hoping for a repeat performance tonight.