Tag: Los Angeles Lakers

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

LeBron James and Anthony Davis Put Up Strong Performances, But Lakers Fall to Hawks in Overtime

LeBron James and Cam Reddish in the 1st half

After losing two games by large margins, the Los Angeles Lakers hoped to get back on track on Friday night when they finished their road trip against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks entered the game on a five-game winning streak and managed to hold off the Lakers for a 134-132 overtime victory after Los Angeles let the game slip away in the final moments.

LeBron James, who was dealing with a foot issue, was listed as questionable for the game but played and made his first three-pointer while also assisting Rui Hachimura twice. The Lakers took an early lead after Dalton Knecht hit a corner three-pointer.

However, the Hawks had their own standout rookie. Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick, responded with five quick points after a timeout. Both teams played strong defense early on, but Anthony Davis ended the first quarter with a three-point play, giving the Lakers a 29-26 lead.

When Davis was on the bench to start the second quarter, the Lakers struggled offensively. Risacher scored two quick baskets, and Onyeka Okongwu added six straight points inside. Then, Bogdan Bogdanovic, known for his success against the Lakers, got hot from beyond the arc, although James answered with a three-pointer of his own.

Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (NBA)

Davis returned to the game and dominated inside, helping the Lakers finish the half strong. However, Atlanta hit a buzzer-beater to tie the game at 64 by halftime.

The Lakers came out strong in the third quarter with excellent ball movement, and James led a 13-0 run to give Los Angeles a double-digit lead, forcing Atlanta to call a timeout. Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter responded with back-to-back three-pointers, and the Lakers needed a timeout.

Afterward, Young and Bogdanovic stayed hot, and the Lakers’ lead quickly disappeared. D’Angelo Russell helped the Lakers regain the lead with two three-pointers, and they entered the fourth quarter up 97-94.

The Lakers’ defense struggled again when Davis was on the bench to start the fourth. Bogdanovic hit another three-pointer to give the Hawks the lead, but James quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own.

As in many parts of the game, the score stayed close in the final minutes. With the Lakers up by four, Dyson Daniels scored five straight points to give the Hawks the lead, but Davis finished an alley-oop from Gabe Vincent to tie the game.

However, the Lakers failed to get a defensive rebound, and Hunter made a three-pointer to give Atlanta the lead. James then tied it up at 119 with a layup with 12.9 seconds remaining. Young took a deep three-pointer at the buzzer, but it was blocked by Max Christie, sending the game to overtime.

Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers

In overtime, the Hawks quickly scored two easy baskets to take a four-point lead. Christie responded with a three-pointer to beat the shot clock but fouled out shortly after. With the game tied at 127, Vincent hit a deep three-pointer to put the Lakers back on top. Davis followed with a clutch midrange jumper.

However, the Hawks continued to stay close and had a chance to take the lead after a steal. James came through with a huge chasedown block to save the Lakers.

Instead of going to the free-throw line, Davis was tied up, and a jump ball was called. The Hawks got the ball back down by one with 19.6 seconds left. Young hit a three-pointer to give Atlanta the lead, and James missed at the buzzer, allowing the Hawks to win.

James and Davis both had incredible performances despite the loss. James posted a triple-double with 39 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and three blocks. Davis contributed 38 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and two blocks.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Trae Young’s clutch 3-pointer in overtime propels Hawks to victory over Lakers

Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers

Trae Young made a crucial 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left in overtime, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 134-132 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Young finished with 31 points and 20 assists, while De’Andre Hunter scored 26 points off the bench to help the Hawks win their sixth straight game. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 20 points, Onyeka Okongwu had 15, and Jalen Johnson contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels each scored 11 points.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 39 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis recorded 38 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Dalton Knecht had 14 points, and Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent each scored 12. The Lakers lost their third consecutive game.

With 1:44 left in overtime, Vincent’s 3-pointer gave the Lakers a 130-127 lead. Daniels and Davis exchanged baskets, then Johnson made two free throws to bring Atlanta within one point with 36.9 seconds remaining. After Young’s game-winning 3-pointer, James missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Trae Young celebrates after scoring

The game was tied at 64 at halftime. Young started the third quarter with a layup, then Knecht’s 3-pointer sparked a 13-0 run for the Lakers. Trailing by nine points, the Hawks responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Young to cut the deficit to one. After Knecht’s layup gave the Lakers an 85-82 lead, Young hit a floater and a 3-pointer to put Atlanta back in front.

Russell made a deep 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 97-92 lead with 29.4 seconds left in the third, but Young’s free throws narrowed the Hawks’ deficit to three points heading into the final quarter.

Atlanta started the fourth quarter with an 11-5 run, including a 3-pointer from Bogdanovic to force a Lakers’ timeout at 7:58. After another 3-pointer from Bogdanovic put the Hawks ahead 108-104, Davis and James responded with key baskets to give the Lakers the lead at 4:12.

Davis’ dunk gave Los Angeles a 117-116 lead with 1:14 remaining, but Hunter answered with a 3-pointer. James’ layup with 12.9 seconds left tied the game, sending it into overtime.

After trailing 29-26 in the first quarter, the Hawks opened the second with a 12-5 run, including three consecutive baskets from Okongwu. Back-to-back baskets from Davis gave the Lakers a 61-59 lead with 51.3 seconds left in the half. Johnson’s floater tied the game at 64 by halftime.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

The hot-handed Hawks aim to continue the Lakers’ recent struggles

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks

The Los Angeles Lakers are having one of their toughest weeks in franchise history.

After a 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday, the Lakers were beaten badly by the Miami Heat 134-93 on Wednesday, marking their worst combined defeat in two games.

The Lakers now head into the last game of their four-game road trip on Friday in Atlanta to face the hot Hawks.

In Wednesday’s game, the Heat shot 57.8 percent from the field and 51.1 percent (24-for-47) from 3-point range. LeBron James, who is close to turning 40, led the Lakers with 29 points. Los Angeles made just 5 of its 22 (22.7 percent) 3-point shots, and Anthony Davis missed 11 of his 14 attempts.

“There has to be some ownership,” said first-year Lakers head coach JJ Redick. “When a group is not performing well, it’s easy to splinter and not want the ownership, particularly when it’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed, we’re all embarrassed.

That wasn’t a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism. Not sure what was lost in translation. … I’m not blaming players. I own this. But there needs to be ownership on the court, as well.”

Redick had the Lakers playing well at the start of the season, but they have since lost six of their last eight games. Davis, who scored a season-low eight points on Wednesday, leads the team with 26.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, while James is averaging 22.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds.

Los Angeles Lakers players in the 2nd half

On the other hand, the Hawks have won five games in a row, with their most recent victory coming against the Milwaukee Bucks, snapping the Bucks’ seven-game winning streak on Wednesday.

After falling behind 16-6 against Milwaukee, Atlanta’s well-rounded scoring effort helped them win their longest streak since January 2023. Jalen Johnson scored 23 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and handed out five assists, while De’Andre Hunter added 20 points off the bench. Hunter has scored over 20 points in four of his last five games.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder believes defense has been the key to their winning streak. They showed this by holding Milwaukee to just 17 points in the fourth quarter.

“I think as much as anything, when we’re defending, that’s the ticket,” Snyder said. “Whether it’s the first quarter, the third quarter, we just have to really commit to guarding. That allows us to get out in transition. … Whether you’re making or missing shots, find a way to impact the game in other ways.”

Atlanta’s star point guard, Trae Young, has struggled with his shooting, hitting career lows in field goal percentage (38.4 percent) and 3-point percentage (30.6 percent) after going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc on Wednesday. However, his playmaking has been strong, leading the NBA with 12 assists per game.

Young leads Atlanta with 20.7 points per game, followed by Johnson (20.1) and Hunter (18.7).

The Hawks, who won East Group C in the NBA Cup last week, will face the New York Knicks in the Cup quarterfinals next Wednesday. Before that, they will play the Denver Nuggets at home on Sunday.

After their game in Atlanta, the Lakers will return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Tyler Herro and the Heat dominate the Lakers with a powerful third-quarter performance

Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers

Tyler Herro scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the third quarter, leading the Miami Heat to a 134-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

The Heat set a new franchise record with 42 assists and matched their team record for most made 3-pointers with 24.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 29 points and eight assists against his former team, hitting 12 of 18 shots. However, Lakers center Anthony Davis, who had been averaging 27.8 points per game, was limited to just eight points on 3-for-14 shooting.

Herro tied a Heat record for the most 3-pointers in a quarter by making seven in the third. During a nearly three-minute stretch in the third quarter, Herro scored 15 consecutive points, making all five of his attempts from beyond the arc. He finished the game 9-for-16 on 3-pointers.

Jimmy Butler, who missed Miami’s last game due to a knee injury, added 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Bam Adebayo contributed 14 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

In the first quarter, Miami fell behind early but went on a 14-0 run to take a 17-6 lead with 7:10 left. The Heat finished the quarter with a 34-26 lead.

Jimmy Butler reacts after scoring

Miami expanded its lead to 21 points in the second quarter, going into halftime with a 69-52 advantage. The Heat shot 70 percent from the field and 4-for-8 on 3-pointers in the second quarter, while the Lakers shot 45.5 percent and just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.

James led all scorers in the first half with 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting, while Adebayo led the Heat with 14 points.

Thanks to Herro’s scoring in the third, the Heat’s lead grew to 105-72, and Miami rested its starters for most of the fourth quarter.

Miami finished the game with 24-for-47 shooting on 3-pointers (51.1 percent) and had a 52-36 rebounding edge.

The Lakers struggled from deep, going just 5-for-22 on 3-pointers (22.7 percent).

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

“Disastrous”: The Lakers have been defeated in their last two games by a total margin of 70 points

Los Angeles Lakers players in the 2nd half

The Lakers had a tough week, suffering a 29-point loss in Minnesota on Monday and a 41-point loss in Miami on Wednesday. Together, these losses mark the worst two-game stretch in Lakers history.

The Lakers were beaten 134-93 by the Heat on Wednesday, just two days after losing 109-80 to the Timberwolves. The combined 70-point margin of defeat is the largest for the Lakers in any two-game span. Their previous worst was a 67-point margin over two games during the 2016-17 season.

“It sucks, for sure, to get your (butt) whooped like that twice in a row,” said Lakers star LeBron James. “For sure.”

The Lakers had been on a six-game winning streak last month, reaching a 10-4 record. Since then, they’ve gone 2-6, with four of those losses by 25 or more points. Wednesday’s loss was especially tough; it wasn’t just their worst loss of the season, but only the 11th time in Lakers history that they’ve lost by more than 40 points in over 6,800 games, including playoffs.

“I’m embarrassed,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “We’re all embarrassed.”

In his first year as coach, Redick’s current record is 12-10, and this rough stretch has been his hardest so far. After the game, he took responsibility, saying, “I’ll take all the ownership in the world. This is my team and I lead it.” However, he also mentioned that the team is struggling with the basic aspects of the game plan.

D’Angelo Russell passes the ball to LeBron James in the 2nd half

“There’s not a sense from me that we’re ‘together’ right now,” Redick said. “And that’s what we say in the huddle. Doesn’t feel that way. Doesn’t feel that way. We’re in a tough stretch and we’re all trying to find it.”

Against Miami, the Lakers were outscored 72-15 from 3-point range, a 57-point difference that tied the fourth-largest in NBA history.

“We’re having trouble right now on both ends with like base-level gameplan stuff,” Redick said. “It’s odd. It’s very odd.”

Anthony Davis had his worst game of the season on Monday, scoring just 12 points. He did even worse on Wednesday, finishing with only 8 points on 3-for-14 shooting.

“Guys are doing their part. I’m not doing mine, which is just tough for our team,” Davis said. “I just have to play better individually on both ends. I hold myself to a higher standard and I haven’t been doing what I needed to do — especially offensively for our team.”

James agreed with everything Redick said, and Davis used the same word his coach had repeated multiple times.

“Embarrassing,” Davis said.

James hopes the rest of the team takes responsibility too. He said that his 22 years in the league have taught him not to get too high during good times or too low during bad ones. However, these back-to-back losses are something he’s never experienced before.

The Lakers will play at Atlanta on Friday, then host Portland on Sunday, before getting a break with a few days off — the NBA Cup quarterfinals on December 10 and 11 give teams not advancing to the knockout stage time to practice and find solutions.

“When you’re individually (messing) up and you’re trying to rely on everybody else to cover for you, I think it starts with the individual first,” James said. “All of us have to take accountability.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

LeBron’s shooting isn’t falling, and the Lakers are having trouble on the offensive end

LeBron James and Cam Reddish in the 1st half

LeBron James is going through a tough time with his shooting, especially from long range.

James missed all four of his 3-point attempts in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 109-80 loss to Minnesota on Monday night. This extended his slump to 0 for 19 from beyond the arc in the last four games.

After making just 4 of 16 shots overall and contributing six of his team’s 20 turnovers for a season-low 10 points against the Timberwolves, James was asked to reflect on the Lakers’ performance at the quarter mark of their 2024-25 season, which stands at 12-9 under rookie coach J.J. Redick.

“I wouldn’t say I’ll take it. I would never want to say that,” James said. “It is what it is. This is our record. We’ve just got to continue to get better at both ends of the floor.”

LeBron James reacts after missing in the 1st half

The Lakers’ struggles, especially on offense, aren’t limited to James alone. His average of 22 points per game is the lowest it’s been since his rookie season 21 years ago.

“We’re just not good offensively right now. I think we spent so much time trying to get our defense corrected that our offense took a toll and took a back seat to that,” he said.

James hasn’t made a 3-pointer since he tied Kyle Korver for seventh place on the NBA’s career list with 2,450 last week. His fourth 3-point attempt against the Timberwolves was an air ball, which made the crowd at Target Center react audibly.

The struggle isn’t just with long-range shots; James is also having trouble with his mid-range game.

“Just period, just everything,” James said. “Just a rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few games.”

When asked how he plans to fix it, he said, “Work. Just work. That’s all.”

James still aims to play all 82 games this season, but his recent performances have led to questions about whether that is a wise goal.

“We are measuring the players, and we can tell if a guy is running hot or whatever,” Redick said. “He does a remarkable job of taking care of his body and getting recovery. I don’t know if that’s in the best interest of us and him if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and good then he should play.”

LeBron James walks down court in the 2nd half

James said his goal of playing all 82 games remains in place as he approaches his 40th birthday on December 30. However, he declined to comment on the possibility of resting.

For now, the bigger issue for the Lakers is improving their offense as they continue adjusting to Redick’s system and a new coaching staff. Their 80 points against Minnesota was their lowest since a 122-73 loss to Dallas in 2017, according to Sportradar.

“Sometimes we look like a team that can compete with anyone, and sometimes we look like a team that is terrible and not going to do anything this season,” said co-star Anthony Davis. “We’ve just got to figure out what team that we want to be the rest of the season.”

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead Lakers to narrow win over Jazz

Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz

Anthony Davis and LeBron James both had double-doubles, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off a late push from the Utah Jazz to secure a 105-104 win on Sunday night in Salt Lake City.

Davis finished with 33 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 27 points and 14 assists to help the Lakers earn their second win in six games.

The Jazz were down by nine points, 101-92, after James scored a floater with 5:33 remaining. However, they rallied and had a chance to win in the final moments.

Walker Kessler cut the lead to one point with a basket, and then grabbed a defensive rebound with 8.2 seconds left. The Jazz seemed to take the lead when Collin Sexton made a layup with less than two seconds remaining, but Utah’s coach, Will Hardy, called a timeout just before the shot.

On the inbounds pass, the Lakers triple-teamed Sexton, causing him to lose control of the ball, and preventing him from getting a game-winning shot off before the buzzer sounded.

LeBron James reacts in the 2nd half

Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 22 points, and John Collins added 21 points and nine rebounds in Utah’s fourth straight loss. Kessler finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Sexton scored 15 points.

Although the Jazz outshot the Lakers 50.6% to 44.3%, Utah had 15 turnovers, which allowed the Lakers to score 20 points off those mistakes. Los Angeles committed only five turnovers, helping them win despite struggling with their 3-point shooting. The Lakers made only 7 of 33 3-pointers, while Utah hit 14 of 40.

The Lakers stayed tough in the fourth quarter, with Markkanen cutting the lead to two points with a step-back 3-pointer early on. However, Rui Hachimura answered with back-to-back 3s, giving the Lakers an 92-84 lead.

Sexton scored three straight baskets for the Jazz to bring them within 94-90, but James responded with four points, including a dunk, in a 5-0 run to give the Lakers their biggest lead at 99-90. Utah came back with a 10-2 surge, but James made a left-handed floater to beat the shot clock and push the Lakers’ lead to 105-102 with 41 seconds remaining.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz aim to shine against the Lakers

Lauri Markkanen jumps to scores

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy found a positive side after his team’s 106-94 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. His team, which will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in Salt Lake City, has now lost three games in a row and seven of their last eight. However, Hardy saw some encouraging signs in the loss to Dallas, who played without star Luka Doncic (wrist sprain).

“Tonight’s a perfect example of there’s a difference between playing bad and shooting bad,” Hardy said. “If the competitiveness, the togetherness, the energy, the fight is at that level every night, there’s a lot of good things ahead in Utah.”

The Jazz showed resilience in the game, especially after falling behind by 20 points in the first half. Despite struggling with shooting, they managed to close the gap to just three points in the third quarter and remained competitive in the fourth.

Utah finished the game shooting just 35.8 percent from the field, making only 23.1 percent of their three-pointers.

Lauri Markkanen led the team with 19 points but struggled with his shooting, making only 7 of 20 attempts, including 2 of 11 from three. Walker Kessler had an impressive performance, making 7 of 9 shots and finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 steals. However, the other three players who scored in double figures—John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Brice Sensabaugh—combined to shoot 15-for-40 from the field.

“Probably my favorite game of the year. We couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean,” Hardy said. “(But) we guarded well enough to win the game. We competed well enough to win the game. We just didn’t shoot well enough to win the game.”

New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers

In their most recent matchup against the Lakers, the Jazz shot better but lost 124-118 on Nov. 19. The Lakers made 55.3 percent of their shots in that win, with Dalton Knecht leading the way by hitting 12 of 16, including 9 of 12 from three, for a game-high 37 points. LeBron James and Anthony Davis each scored 26 points in the win, shooting a combined 19-for-32.

Knecht scored a team-high 20 points in the Lakers’ 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

“There were a half-dozen to a dozen plays that just shot us in the foot even before the late-game stuff,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We played well enough and hard enough to win against the best team in the West. So there’s definitely good stuff.”

Los Angeles enters this game having lost four of their last five. Redick was encouraged by his team’s defense against the Thunder, noting that the Lakers were only down by one point before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left.

“That was as connected as our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season,” Redick said. “Just, you know, a really outstanding job with a lot of the stuff we talked about.”

This will be Utah’s second home back-to-back set in less than a week. The Jazz were defeated 128-115 by San Antonio on Tuesday and lost 122-103 to Denver on Wednesday.

Categories
FEATURED

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shines in the final moments to lead the Thunder past the Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points, had nine assists, and grabbed six rebounds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 101-93 in an NBA Cup game on Friday.

The Thunder improved to 2-1 in West Group B, while the Lakers, who won the NBA Cup last year, dropped to 2-2.

Jalen Williams contributed 19 points, Luguentz Dort added 14 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 11 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. The Thunder extended their winning streak to four games.

For the Lakers, rookie Dalton Knecht led with 20 points, D’Angelo Russell came off the bench to score 17 points, and Anthony Davis recorded 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks. LeBron James had 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Austin Reeves chipped in with 11 points. The Lakers have now lost four of their last five games.

Gilgeous-Alexander took control in the final quarter, scoring 15 points. With 1:35 left, he made a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma City a 95-91 lead. Max Christie made a turnaround jumper with 39.9 seconds left, pulling the Lakers within two at 95-93.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander reacts in the game

Gilgeous-Alexander responded by hitting two free throws, and then Williams stole the ball from Reeves on an inbounds pass and dunked to seal the win for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City shot 40.9 percent from the field and scored 20 points off 17 turnovers by the Lakers.

The Thunder started strong, hitting seven of their first nine shots and taking a 15-6 lead with 7:43 remaining in the first quarter. They led 32-24 at the end of the first period.

Los Angeles responded with the first seven points of the second quarter to trim the deficit to one. The Lakers briefly took a 46-45 lead on a basket by Davis with 1:12 left in the first half. However, Gilgeous-Alexander and Kenrich Williams hit consecutive 3-pointers just before halftime, giving Oklahoma City a 51-48 lead at the break.

Categories
NBA (Basketball)

Suns dominate Lakers with return of key players

Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers

Devin Booker scored 26 points and had 10 assists as the Phoenix Suns ended a five-game losing streak with a 127-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal both scored 23 points in their first game back after calf injuries. The Suns had struggled without them, going 1-6 without Durant and 0-5 without Beal.

Jusuf Nurkic added 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Grayson Allen contributed 10 points for Phoenix, who outscored the Lakers 65-40 in the second half.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocked shots, while LeBron James had 18 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. D’Angelo Russell scored 16 points, and Austin Reaves had 15 for Los Angeles, who lost their third straight game.

James made two 3-pointers, tying him with Kyle Korver for seventh place on the all-time list with 2,450 threes.

The game was part of the NBA Cup, and Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Antonio Spurs are tied for first place at 2-1 in the Western Group B standings.

Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (NBA)

Phoenix shot 51.5% from the field and made 17 of 42 three-point attempts. Tyus Jones had five steals for the Suns. Los Angeles shot 43.5% overall but struggled from three-point range, hitting only 8 of 34 attempts.

The Suns were up by two points at halftime, but Nurkic and Booker took charge in the third quarter. Phoenix outscored the Lakers 36-18 in that period. Nurkic scored the first 10 points of the quarter, and Booker followed with 11 more points, pushing the lead to 83-72 with 5:37 left.

Royce O’Neale’s 3-pointer extended the Suns’ lead to 91-74, and Tyus Jones hit a buzzer-beater to give Phoenix a 98-78 advantage at the end of the third. The Suns shot 60.9% (14 of 23) in the third quarter, while the Lakers shot just 28.6% (6 of 21).

Beal scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, giving Phoenix a 25-point lead with 9:25 to go. Phoenix’s lead grew to 30 points at one point as they won their second game against Los Angeles this season.

This was the second straight game where the Lakers struggled in the second half. They were outscored 70-39 by the Denver Nuggets in a 127-102 loss on Saturday.

Durant and Beal each scored 14 points in the first half, and the Suns held a 62-60 lead at the break. Davis had 17 points for the Lakers in the first half.