Lakers 109 vs 102 Suns scores, summary, stats, highlights | NBA Playoff
The Los Angeles Lakers responded to and series opening loss with a road win sending the series to LA tied at 1-1. Anthony Davis bounced back after a disappointing last game carrying LA to a 109-102 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Davis bounced back after Game 1
A lot of questions were asked of LeBron James and especially Anthony Davis who blamed himself for the Game 1 loss. Davis told reporters the Lakers “can’t win games if he plays like that,” And so tonight all eyes were of the LA big man.
Both James and Davis answered the call tonight, but is was Dennis Schroder who had the Lakers on track in the first half. Schroder was scoring at will in the opening two quarters. His hot start from the outside allowed him to blow past defenders and get to the iron to finish around the rim. His 16 first half points were enough to take LA to the break up six.
Lakers led throughout
The Lakers took the lead mid way through the first quarter and didn’t give it up until the last six minutes of the fourth quarter. Phoenix was hanging around, but couldn’t make the run to take control of the game. They lead for just two possessions before James and Davis shut the door in the final minutes.
James and Davis carried LA in the fourth
The two players who took the brunt of the blame for the Game 1 loss took the team on their backs and carried LA to the finish line, scoring 16 of the final 18 points.
Davis countered a subpar last game with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists to level the series. Schroder finished with 24 and LeBron dropped 23 points and nine assists.
CP3's shoulder inury still lingering
Chris Paul was a big question mark coming into Game 2 after suffering a shoulder injury on Sunday. Paul started the game, but never looked 100%. He played just seven minutes in the second half as the Suns were left to make a comeback big with out their point guard.
Back-to-back 30 point games for Booker
Devin Booker had another strong playoff performance with 31 points, but it was Cameron Payne who filled the void left by CP3 in the second half. Payne caught fire in the third quarter and finished with 19, but it wasn’t enough to knock off the Lakers.
The series is all square and will take to LA where the Lakers will return home knowing they have taken home court advantage from the Suns. The big question going into next game is how will Chris Paul’s shoulder heal? He will have just one day of rest before Thursday’s Game 3 at the Staples Center.
It's all over from Phoenix! The Lakers will go to LA with the series tied at 1-1
Davis to the line again, connects on both. He's taken 21 FTs tonight.
Booker fouled on another three by Schroder. Hits all three.
Davis back at the line drops both.
Booker again at the line after being fouled from behind the arc, hits all three.
Carusso with a with open lane on the two handed jam.
Booker goes to the line and hits both.
LeBron might have just iced this game with a long ball off the dribble. He's got 23 on the night.
Booker knocks down both FTs.
1:30 to go in the fourth quarter.
Davis back to the line, knocking down both. He's got 30 and 9 rebounds.
Davis drops the three ball from the left side.
LeBron on the fade away from the baseline. Vintage James late in the game.
Timeout from Phoenix with under four minutes to go in the fourth.
Payne on the drive, finishes on the right side with the left hand.
AD from the dump off by Schroder, easy finish for Davis who has 25
Schroder at the line, knocks down both.
Ayton puts the Suns back in the lead with a close range effort.
Gasol from downtown!
Ayton on the finish, after the Payne scoop was strong.
Back in play from Phoenix with 7 minutes to go in the fourth.
Timeout LA. The Suns haven't led since it was 12-11 in first quarter. They have a chance to take the lead out of the timeout.
Payne on a deep spot up three ties the game up at 86
Davis back to the line, drops both FTs.
Under 8 to go in the fourth
CROWDER IN THE CORNER FOR THREE AND THE FOUL!!! Gets the FT, and we have a one point game in Phoenix.
Carusso with the fall away jumper in the lane.
Crowder tip in at the rack.
Davis hits one of two at the line
Under 10 minutes to go from Phoenix. This game is feeling like it's going down to the wire.
Saric to the line, hits two of two.
Drummond again down low. He's got 15 and 12.
Payne drains a three, and Phoenix are heating up from downtown.
Johnson with the three ball on the left side just before the buzzer sounds to end the third quarter.
LeBron weaving and hits a long two point jumper .
Johnson responds with a three ball.
LeBron falling out of bounds, drops the three in the corner.
Booker leans in the lane, and he's got 21.
Davis in the corner from long range.
Payne on the reverse lay up
Davis back at the line, gets both to drop.
Payne with the three in the corner.
Davis sent to the FT line by Payne, hits two of two.
Timeout from Phoenix. with under six to go in the third quarter.
Ayton on the reverse! He's been big in the paint for the Suns tonight.
Schroder on the scoop from the right side of the lane. He's got 22
Booker gets the roll on the runner, and draws the foul. FT is good and Booker is starting to take over.
Booker on the tear drop in the lane. He's got 16.
Schroder to the line, hits both. He's the first to 20 points tonight.
Booker on the leaner from the topof the key.
Ayton with a slam down low off the Crowder assist.
Schroder off the Davis assist. Lakers have their biggest lead of the night. Timeout Phoenix
Paul to the line, hits one of two.
Drummond in the paint off the assist from LeBron.
Davis on the block, stong dribble and finish. Gets the bucket and the foul. FT is good
James starts off the second half with a ball from the left side.
Four Lakers are in double digits, Shroder has 16, Drummond has 11, and Davis and James both have 10
Ayton leads the Suns with 14 points through the first half. Booker has 12.
LA's largest lead in the first half was 11. Phoenix is sticking around, but LeBron and the Lakers have kept them at a distance.
The first half comes to an end, with the Lakers up six on the Suns
Payne on the easy drive, gets the finger roll.
1:12 to go in the second quarter. Schroder to the line and drops both.
Bridges in the corner for three, great look from Ayton in the paint.
Ayton on the alley oop on the feed from Payne.
Schroder dashing to the rack!
Payne with two made free throws.
Timeout from Phoenix with under three to go in the second quarter.
Drummond with the sky hook in the lane from the left side gets fouled and hits the FT.
Davis on the floater in the lane.
Schroder spots up from the left side
Booker on a 16 foot jumper off the dribble
Schroder again on the pull up.
Drummond with a strong finish from under the iron.
Paul with a floater down the lane.
Schroder with the pull up from the mid range.
Craig on the fade away
Ayton connect from underneath the basket
Three ball from Schroder
Paul off the dribble, hits a mid range jumper. Lakers call a timeout
Ayton fading away from close range.
Davis with a couple free throws
Paul to Ayton underneath for the easy bucket.
Booker stretching to the iron, and closes out the first quarter with a finger roll.
Horton-Tucker drops one of two from the line.
Payne hits a couple FTs.
Booker back to the line and drops both.
LeBron steps back and drains a three
Booker back to the line, hits both.
Kuzma in the lane.
Booker with a deep two for his first fg.
LeBron on the drive, gets the bucket and the foul. FT is good for James. 14-2 run for the Lakers. 11 points on turnovers.
Gasol into the game and on to the scoreboard. Three ball from the top of the key
Ayton responds with a strong finish under the basket. Time out from Arizona.
Drummond puts his head down and lays it in
6 TOs for Phoenix in the first 7 minutes
Schroder on the runner from outside the left side of the lane.
Davis on the mid range jumper. He's got 6 already
Booker with two free throws
SHOWTIME!!! Davis feed LeBron on the alley oop off the steal. LeBron skying to slam it home.
Davis with the dunk of the Suns turnover.
Booker with the dump off in transition Ayton finishes under the basket.
Ayton drops a mid range jumper.
Drummond persistent down low gets the tip in on the third effort.
Davis to the line hits one of two.
LeBron picks up the loose ball and skies for the slam.
Paul to the line, hits one of two and his shooting stroke looks good after last game's shoulder injury
Drummond with a tip in off the miss.
Bridges in the corner for a triple
Crowder hit two FTs aftert the flagrent.
The ref are reviewing a play on an AD jumper in which he was fouled, but Davis is called for a flagrent foul after his leg connected with the groin of Crowder on the follow through. Davis hits one of two free throws.
We are underway from Phoenix in Game 2
The Starting 5's are being announced around the Phoenix Suns Arena.
According to Bet365.com the Lakers are 2 point favorites, with the Over/Under set at 210.
Chris Paul injured his shoulder last game. He came back but the injury affected his shot and his ball handling. That will be something to keep an eye on from the start of Game 2.
It's all over from Brooklyn, the Nets with a big win to go up 2-0 on the Celtics.
Don't forget, the Lakers lost their opener in the Playoffs to the Trail Blazers, and that ended up turning out alright for LA
Booker was sensational in his playoff debut, can he put in a repeat performance tonight?
Davis admitted guilt for the Lakers loss last game, how does he respond tonight?
All eyes will be on this series, tonight's game will go a long way in determining the who moves on to the second round.
We are about an hour away from tip off here from Phoenix Suns Arena
The stage is set for Game 2 at the Phoenix Suns Arena after the two seed took the opener on Sunday. Tonight the Suns will host the Lakers looking to double their lead in the series and AS English will have all the live coverage, scores, stats and highlights from tonights showdown.
The Phoenix Suns controlled the opening game of round one, and did it with defense. They held the Lakers to just 90 points as LeBron James and Anthony Davis failed to find their form on the offensive end.
The Suns returned to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, and did so with a win over one of the title favorites. Many were questioning if Phoenix were actually the best team in the series after a fantastic season in which they earned a two seen in the playoffs. LA has built a team with ideas of a repeat but injuries have done them no favors the season.
The Lakers waited until the last few games to have LeBron and Davis take the floor together, and the rust is still being scraped off as the two have had nearly no time together on the court over last two three months.
Both James and Davis were held under 20 points in the first game of the series. After the game Anthony Davis accepted blame for the loss saying “There is no way we can with if I play like that.”
Booker was the top dog in his first career playoff game, scoring 32 points. Ayton won the battle of the big men against Davis in Game 1 posting 21 points and 16 boards.
The big story aside from the Suns win was the injury Chris Paul suffered in the first half. Paul was the victim of friendly fire as he collided with Cam Johnson and ended up writhing in pain holding his shoulder. He returned to the game minutes later, but was visibly shaken up. His shot changed drastically and he had trouble keeping his dribble with his right hand.
Tonight will be a big test for the Suns, who came out of Sunday and showed their best face. The Lakers were far from tip top in Game 1, but look for LeBron and Davis to respond tonight in Phoenix Suns Arena.