Suns overcome Lakers 123-113 in the closing minutes.
In a sports update, the Phoenix Suns secured a 123-113 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Grayson Allen contributed 24 points, with Kevin Durant adding 22 to lead the Suns. Crucial 3-pointers from Allen and Royce O’Neale extended the Suns’ lead to 116-104 with three minutes remaining, securing their win. Jusuf Nurkic’s impressive performance included 18 points, 22 rebounds, and seven assists.
Despite trailing by 20 points in the first quarter, the Lakers narrowed the gap to 92-90 by late in the third. However, Phoenix responded with six consecutive points and maintained control throughout the fourth quarter.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points and 12 assists, while Anthony Davis contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds. Phoenix had four starters scoring over 20 points, with Devin Booker totaling 21 and O’Neale adding 20. Bol Bol provided 11 points off the bench in 24 minutes of play.
The Suns established a significant lead of 38-18 in the first quarter, ending the period with a 45-28 advantage, their highest scoring quarter of the season. Although the Lakers reduced the deficit in the second quarter, they still trailed 72-63 at halftime.
Bradley Beal, a three-time All-Star for the Suns, missed his fourth consecutive game due to a tight left hamstring, limiting his appearances in this season’s games.
Both the Suns and the Lakers are currently navigating similar challenges, striving to secure positions above the play-in tournament in the Western Conference. As of now, the Suns hold the eighth seed, while the Lakers are in ninth place. The top six teams in each conference advance directly to the first best-of-seven round, bypassing the play-in tournament.
