Suns 95 - 109 Lakers: NBA Playoff score, stats, highlights...
The seventh seeded Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 advantage on the Phoenix Suns after a 109-95 win at the Staples Center. Anthony Davis led the way for a Lakers team that pulled away in the second half.
Happy homecoming for the Lakers
It was the first playoff game at the Staples Center in eight years, and the Lakers had a happy homecoming thanks to a big night their big man, Davis.
Paul injury headlines the series
All eyes at the outset were zeroed in on Chris Paul. The Suns PG was injured in Game 1, and has been fighting to overcome a right shoulder contusion that visibly bothered him in the second game of the series.
Paul came out of the gate with a couple mid range jumpers, hinting that his shoulder was recovered.
After a low scoring second quarter that had a couple different stretches of more than two minutes with out a basket, the Lakers went to the break up by two.
Lakers took over to start second half.
The Lakers took command after halftime shooting out to a 16-6 run to start the third quarter, With their top scorer, Devin Booker, struggling to find shots the Suns had trouble keeping up with Davis and the Lakers.
A 15-2 run in the fourth quarter slammed the door on the Suns options of making a late comeback. Cameron Payne had a lively fourth quarter for Phoenix, scoring nine straight points from behind the arc, but by that time it was too little too late for the away side.
Davis dominant again
There was no answer to Anthony Davis, who for the bounced back for second straight game after being critical of his own performance in Game 1. Davis finished with 34 points and 11 rebounds, pacing LA to their first playoff win in the Staples Center since 2012. LeBron followed with 21 points and 9 assists, as the matchup between him and Jae Crowder got more and more heated towards the end of the game.
Booker contained by Lakers D
Deandre Ayton registered a double double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, but Devin Booker had a rough offensive night, and ended up getting ejected with under a minute to go in the game. Paul played 27 minutes but sat out much of the second half, finishing with 7 points and 6 assists.
Game 4 Sunday afternoon
Game 3 is always so important when a series is tied at 1-1. More than 70 percent of the time the team that takes the 2-1 advantage goes on to win the series. The Lakers will be hoping that’s the case in this series. They have a chance to take a big step towards knocking out the two seed in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon in LA.
It's all over from the Staples Center. The Lakers win 95-109
Craig with the last basket of the game.
Kuzma drops a three ball from the right side.
Booker and Croweder have both been ejected. Schroder to the line, hits three FTs
Kuzma to the line, hits both. Timeout with 1:03 to go in the fourth.
Booker hits two FTs.
1:30 to go in the fourth.
LeBron fouled on the pull up from the top of the key, James hits both.
Ayton gets the entry pass, shakes off the contact and finises. Goes to the line but misses the FT
Schroder pulls up from 17 feet.
Crowder with the long ball
Schroder with a two point jumper.
Booker on the drive. Suns within 9.
Crowder with one of two from the free throw line.
Payne pulls the trigger in transition. Nine straight points for Payne. Timeout LA.
Under 4:30 to go in the fourth quarter.
Payne with back to back threes.
Davis back at the stripe, knocks down both.
Payne in the near corner for three
Schroder at the line, hits both
Timeout in LA with six minutes to go in Game 3
Crowder from the baseline with the jumper.
Booker to the line, hitting two of two.
LeBron on the flashy reverse! 15-2 run for the Lakers.
Under 8 to go from LA
Gasol with the triple try from the top of the key.
Ayton bullying his way to the basket
Matthews steps into a three, for his second straight triple, 10-0 run for the Lakers who have their biggest lead of the night. Timeout Suns.
LeBron strong to the dish, with the hoop and harm, gets the finger roll and goes to the line and misses the FT, but gets his own rebound and finds Matthews drains a three.
Davis to the line, the lead is back to 10.
Craig with a deep ball
Payne with a deep two to start the fourth
We are headed to the fourth from LA! Lakers climbed out to a big lead in the third quarter.
Payne with a steal and score in transition.
Payne with a runner in the lane.
Davis following up on the offensive rebound and put back, he's got 30 and the last 9 for LA
Davis again with a baby hook in the lane.
Technical against Booker, arguing with the ref. Sends AD to the line who hits the FT.
Davis on the running hook through the lane, he's got 25 points.
3:20 to go in the 3rd quarter. Craigh with a three ball.
Payne, who has had a slow night, on the board.
Davis hits two of two from the line.
Johnson in the corner on the near side.
Schroder crosses over at the top of the key and lays it up on the right side of the rim gets the foul and hits the FT
Booker slashing to the rack.
Davis takes the contact and finishes, goes to the line and completes the three point play.
LeBron with a power slam driving baseline.
Johnson fouled on the three pointer, goes to the line and hits
LeBron showing the strength on the drive. Timeout Phoenix with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter.
LeBron on the reverse down the lane.
Davis back to the line,
Ayton gets back to the rim, he's got all six Suns points in the third quarter.
Davis goes to the line, and hits one of two.
Ayton gets to the rack for a couple quick buckets.
AD throws it down of the Schorder lob
LeBron finds Drummond inside
Ayton gets a bucket after 10 straight Suns missed fgs
Davis running the floor, two handed jam off the fee from LeBron. 6-0 run by LA, Phoenix needs a timeout.
LeBron this time on the step back in the paint
Back in play from LA, LeBron gets into the paint and finishes to get the second half going.
Davis leads all scorers with 12 points.
The Lakers commited 11 TOs in the first half. If they can keep those down in the second half it could be trouble for the Suns
The Lakers have been scrappy on the boards, leading the Suns 34-20 on the glass.
Booker leads the Suns with 11 points, Ayton has 10 and six rebounds.
The Lakers have dominated in the paint, with 26 of their 43 points down low.
The best news for the Suns is Chris Paul looked unbothered by the shoulder in the first half.
The fist half comes to a close, with not much between these two teams
Paul hits one of two FTs.
26 points in the paint for the Lakers in the fist half
Caldwell-Pope with the follow and the put back, for a quick four points.
One minute to go in the first half.
Caldwell-Pope on the steal and the score.
Schroder at the line, puts an end to the scoreless spell, hits just one of two.
Another 2:30 minute spell without a point in this second quarter.
Timeout from LA with 4:26 to go in the second quarter.
Booker to the line hits two FTs
Ayton against down low, this time on the feed from Crowder.
Ninth turnover for LA already tonight.
Ayton with the alley oop of the lob from Paul
Davis fouled on the drive, goes to the line and hits two of two
Kuzma drains the three ball out of the timeout.
Timeout in LA, with 6:45 to go in the first half. There hasn't been a point scored since the 9 minute mark in the second quarter.
Paul ties the game up with a mid range jumper, and his shot looks much better tonight.
Drummond gets the alley oop off the feed from LeBron.
Matthews gets two of two from the line.
Carusso getting into the lane again.
Craig in the corner for three
We are done with the one here from the Staple Center. The Suns go into the second quarter up by a point.
Carruso gets into the heart of the defense.
Booker in the lane gets the runner.
Ayton on the turnaround from the baseline outside the lane.
Booker with the spot up from 10 feet.
Davis again on the rim run, streaking down the lane.
Schroder turns on the jets and finishes around the iron.
Booker with a hand in his face on the near side.
Davis on the jam, Kuzma lobbed it up for AD
Bridges with a second three of the night.
4:15 to go in the first quarter.
Schroder weaving to the basket, gets the scoop to go.
Daivs inside off the assist from LeBron.
Bridges from downtown
LeBron hits one of two FTs.
Paul on the jumper again.
Ayton with a deuce under the basket.
Drummond slams after the spin
Paul on the FT line jumper. He is looking good to start.
LeBron on the lay up inside.
Schroder with the three ball. He caught fire in the first half last game.
Booker gets the roll on the jumper
Daivs after his second offensive rebound with the put back slam
Ayton on the short floater.
Davis on the long two point jumper, that's a good sign for Lakers fans. Both stars with the opening buckets of the game.
James on the step back three.
Big delay to start the game, as Vogel challenged the foul called against Crowder on the three. The call stands and Crowder hits all three.
We are underway in the Staples Center.
Chris Paul is in the starting 5. The first few minutes will tell us alot about how the Suns PG is feeling.
We are just a few minutes away from tip here at the Staples Center.
Incase there was any doubt, Chris Paul is on the floor warming up pre game.
Ayton won the battle of the big men agaist Anthony Davis in Game 1, the Suns would love to see him do that again tonight.
"It's pretty obvious he's not able to make the passes he wants, that's No. 1," Said Suns coach Monty Williams about Chris Paul after Game 2.
Booker has started his playoff career with back to back 30 point games.
Cameron Payne has been showing his scoring prowess over the last few games. He will need a heavy contribution tonight along with Deandre Ayton and Suns top scorer Devin Booker.
All eye will be on Chris Paul who was just a shadow of himself in Game 2 after suffering a shoulder injury in the first half of the opener.
Hello everyone and welcom inside the Staples Center, we are just over an hour from tip off of Game 3 from LA.
The series moves to the LA with the Lakers and the Suns tied at 1-1 through the first couple games in Phoenix. AS English will be keeping you up to date with live coverage, scores, updates and and highlights from tonight’s Game 3 between Los Angeles and Phoenix.
The first two game in Phoenix painted two very difference pictures. Game 1 was the Suns first playoff game in 11 years, and they made up for lost time with a fantastic showing on the defensive end. Phoenix were able to hold both LeBron James and Anthony Davis to under 20 points.
Anthony Davis later accepted the loss was on his shoulders, saying the Lakers “Wouldn’t win a game” if he plays like he played in the opener. The Suns went on to win the game 99-90 and Devin Booker toped all scorers with 34 points.
The big story of the series opener, aside from the Suns victory, was Chris Paul’s shoulder injury he picked up in the first half. The Suns PG collided with Cam Johnson, and stayed on the floor writhing in pain before heading to the locker room.
CP3 returned shortly after but was visibly affected by the aftermath of the right shoulder contusion. His shot altered and his ball handling wasn’t as secure as it normally is.
Paul started Game 2, but barley had an impact. He played just seven minutes in the second half, as the Suns were trying to battle back on the Lakers.
Anthony Davis answered his own call after recognizing he needed to play better if the Lakers were going to have a chance to win.
The LA big man went for 34 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists to silence critics, and even the series at 1-1. Lebron had 23, while Dennis Schroder finished as the second leading scorer with 24 points.
Game 2 was controlled by the Lakers, but it still took James and Davis scoring 16 of LA’s last 18 points of the fourth quarter to pull off the victory.
The biggest question mark coming into tonight’s matchup is the status of Chris Paul’s shoulder. He was obviously not himself last game, and has little time to recover from the Game 1 injury. He was well off his average of 16 points and 9 assists last game. If Paul isn’t at 100% the Suns will need role players like Cameron Payne and Deandre Ayton to have big games tonight.
For the Lakers the recipe is simple. If there big two come out to play, they have a good shot of taking Game 3 in LA. They will need some help from guys like Schroder, and Michael Caldwell-Pope.
Game 3 will be an important landmark in determining the outcome of the series. Suns-Lakers is set to tip at 10:30 ET