What a comeback by the Lakers 👏
(AP) LOS ANGELES – Thursday evening, the undermanned Phoenix Suns were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers 100-95 in the final minutes. LeBron James recorded ten of his twenty-one points and thirteen rebounds while playing the entire fourth quarter.
With 1:11 remaining, James converted a game-winning floater for the Lakers, who overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn their first victory of the year in James’ 21st NBA home opener.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 39 points and 11 rebounds in their absence due to injured players Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. The Suns held an 84-72 lead entering the fourth minute, but in the subsequent 10 minutes they committed 10 turnovers and missed 13 of their next 14 attempts.
With 1:28 remaining, Durant scored on two consecutive possessions to tie the game at 91 and advance him to 12th place on the NBA’s career scoring list, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon.
However, James responded with consecutive layups that framed Durant’s missed three-pointer; in the final seconds, Austin Reaves and Davis each made free throws.
It is highly unlikely that Durant and James had encountered each other on an NBA court since December 2018. They were sidelined in the thirteen prior meetings between James’ Lakers and Durant’s Warriors, Nets, and Suns due to injuries, load management dilemmas, and health and safety protocols.
Eric Gordon scored 15 points in the first meeting since Lakers dismissed Suns head coach Frank Vogel 18 months prior, following three seasons and one NBA championship.
Although both James and the Lakers had agreed to restrict his playing time this season, the strategy was not executed as James continued to exert himself on the court until the fourth quarter of this victory.
Although the Lakers were determined to limit James’ minutes for health purposes as he enters his third NBA decade, they labored miserably whenever James was absent in the first half.
During the first timeout, the Lakers unveiled a tribute video in Vogel’s honor. Three years ago this month, Vogel led the Lakers to their seventeenth championship in the Florida bubble. However, precisely 18 months later, when his -plagued squad failed to make the playoffs, they dismissed him.
Tuesday against Golden State, Booker sat out with left foot after destabilizing his foot late in his 28-point performance. Beal has yet to make his debut with the Suns as a result of a stiff lower back.
Due to bursitis of the left heel, Jarred Vanderbilt was absent for the Los Angeles game. When recovered, Vanderbilt is likely to replace Taurean Prince in the starting lineup for the Lakers. Prince failed to strike over the course of 18 minutes.