The Phoenix Suns came out strong again against the Lakers, with a 22-7 and 38-19 advantage in the first quarter, and had a 13-point lead at the break. Devin Booker had 20 points at the break, and the Suns made almost 60% of their shots with a lead of 69-56.
But then LeBron James and Anthony Davis played balls in the third quarter (19 points in the third). Davis made it 4/5 three, and the Lakers generally led the way back into the game with a 35-23 increase behind 6/7 three in the quarterfinals. Booker picked up his fourth mistake four minutes from the end of the quarter and the Suns struggled to score to close it.
Chris Paul and Dario Saric, two key players in their own ways, missed the game, leaving Devin Booker as the main player for most of the game. Did he do very well, but couldn’t play all the time?
Booker picked up that 5th mistake early in the 4th, before the Suns fell 100-95 to a Taylor Horton-Tucker three (17th in the game, 55% at distance).
The Lakers couldn’t miss in the 4th either, and the Suns had few answers at both ends. Horton-Tucker struck a 30 meter free kick home despite a great save by Jevon Carter. He will have a problem this year. Physically it reminds me a lot of Shannon Brown, but she is much more aggressive and physical than Brown has ever been.
In true pre-season mode, the Lakers and Suns cleared their benches in less than three minutes for a three-point game, 106-103 Lakers. At that point, it didn’t even matter who won the game.
But who am I kidding? Of course, it always matters who wins. First Langston Galloway makes a three, then Ty-Shon Alexander makes one and the Suns could win this game after all!
The Suns had the ball, one down, with the Carter-Galloway-Smith-Alexander-Motley team and three chances to score, but they didn’t succeed.
Final score, Lakers 114, Suns 113.
Don’t worry about Suns fans 0-4 pre-season Suns. This team is good.
The regular season begins next week against Dallas at home.
Arena
It’s the first time I’ve seen the arena and I have to tell you it feels like a whole new building once you’re inside. I’ve been coming here for almost thirty years and it just doesn’t look the same.
The seats are partially covered, I suppose, but especially it is a completely new sensation. New yard, new colors (all black outside the floor surface). Huge big screen. Theater lighting. I love!
alignment
Welp, too bad for anyone who wants another look at CP3 executing the crime. He’s standing outside with ankle pain.
Jevon Carter intervenes at the starting point, but that means Devin Booker really leads the team, right? Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton complete the range.
For the Lakers, they are LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Dennis Schroder is not listed as injured (no one is), so I think he’s coming off the bench with Wesley Matthews in it.
Tip Off
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The Suns started hot, with a pair of threes from Booker and Bridges and a steal / score from Carter.
Devin Booker plays a guard with Carter watching on the wing. Carter brings the ball up, then passes it quickly to Carter.
I love that the video card plays the game!
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The Suns rose 14-3 before LA requested a timeout. The Suns were just on point while the Lakers were still stuck in preseason mode.
The Suns rose 20-7 again, as they did last night against the LA starters.
When the fun started, Mikal Bridges went down strangely on a cutting board, rolled over his head / neck and left as a precaution. I hope he’s okay, but I doubt he risks bringing him back.
The Suns rose 32-16 before most of the Suns started giving up on the bench. But at least this time the cams were there. Cameron Johnson and Cam Payne spoke with Langston Galloway, Damian Jones and Jalen Smith.
Mikal went jogging back a second later to the cheers of his teammates.
Glad to have the cams back! The Suns were 39-18, forcing the Lakers to resort to another timeout. Now, THIS seems like Bubble Suns to me again. Energy, photography, focus. Yes I like.
Mikal checked in just before the end of the quarter. The man is an Iron Man.
The sun rises 39-21 at the end of one. I took Cam a J at the end of the quarter as three screens, but it didn’t go down. Devin Booker had 15 points on 5-6 shots. Jevon was effective with 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Deandre Ayton was 3-3 for 6 points, plus 3 rebounds and a block.
The Suns return in second, with two regular starters – Jae and Mikal – with Carter, Galloway and Damian Jones. Galloway caught fire again for the second three. Let’s just say they didn’t have much chemistry. He became a little careless afterwards, until Ayton returned to get a little attention from Laker D.
Taylor Horton-Tucker is good, but I have to say she looks a lot like Shannon Brown. Maybe it’s just a construction. But I get flashbacks … that is, until he enters Ayton’s gut and finishes a strong stretch and now that Shannon Brown’s image is a distant memory.
The Suns retained their advantage of over 16 points during the second quarter, unlike a few nights ago, when they struggled with the game on the bench. Cam Payne and Jevon Carter were funny to watch them at both ends, even when the Lakers became big again to try to counter the Suns’ speed and energy.
But then, trying to play the Lakers starting lineup with Damian Jones and Johnathan Motley, because your big men could have been a little too bold. But this happens when your depth is not deep. Ayton is unable to play the full game, and Dario Saric is still out with a four-point injury. Even CamJ is minutes away with a calf pulled. Jalen Smith has not yet appeared ready for the NBA minutes.
LeBron and AD decided that Jones / Motley would NOT defeat them, and they took it hard in turn. However, the Suns advantage was 62-46, with 3:03 left in the half. This is due to the fact that Devin Armani Booker has up to 20 points on 7 field goals, and the Suns shot 60% of the field almost at the break.
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Did I mention that the yard and the video card are beautiful? You have to know that I came to this arena for almost 30 years, I reached over 35 games, each of the last 10. I suffered with that awful old board. I deserve to enjoy this lol.
Cam Johnson did not shoot well from the depths (0-4 in the half), but he always does good things on the field, otherwise. Be nice to see the shot come back.
The Lakers reduced the lead to 69-56 in the half as Cam Payne missed the final buzzer shot. However, the Suns finished the half with 58.7% of the field and looked the same as that discarded team from Bubble.
The second half
The Suns opened the second half with three, but certainly less energy and saw the lead drop to 9, despite a pair of three by Javon Carter. LeBron and AD did a number three, and the Suns just seemed slow, compared to 20 minutes earlier. Drive up to 80-71.
Unfortunately, the Lakers increased their defensive effort and energy in general, reminding us that they are not too fierce. The Lakers are definitely leaning their muscles right now.
The Suns ‘lead dropped to 6th in the Lakers’ 5th in the quarter, before Monty brought in the Cams. However, Booker collected his fourth foul, and the Lakers responded with the 6th three of the quarter to reduce the Suns’ lead to four.
Now it’s a real game. Anthony Davis continued his blast, making 4 threes only in the third quarter, 6-7 for the overall game, and the Suns’ lead dropped to 92-91 after three quarters. The Lakers have scored 15 of 26 overall so far. LBJ and AD are 9-11 together.
I can’t say how much fighting the Motley / Damian Jones / Jalen Smith rotation had this pre-season. Just bad results.