Lakers dominate in the paint, clinching game three win over Phoenix
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers secure another home victory against the Phoenix Suns taking a 2–1 lead in this Western Conference series. Anthony Davis had an outstanding performance with 34 points and 11 rebounds. Lebron James is the second leading scorer with 21 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Point guard Dennis Schroder’s aggression in the pocket earns himself 20 points with a number of lay up shots and free throws.
Phoenix failed to rally the valley for game three with the Los Angeles offense slicing through the Suns’ zone defense. Davis, James and a roster of interchangeable weapons puts an overwhelming pressure on Phoenix under the rim.
Devin Booker was ejected in the last two minutes of the game on a flagrant foul against Shroeder. Booker couldn’t score in the 2nd and was slow to start in the third. Deandre Ayton led Phoenix in scoring with 22 points.
Davis picks up a foul in the first 15 seconds in the game for late contact interrupting a jump shot from Crowder who came down on the foot of Davis. Suns put up the first three, Lebron James responds with a deep three pointer. Davis catches his own rebound twice before dunking it in to tie the score 7–7. Andre Drummond makes a hard block under the rim stifling a layup from Crowder.
Minutes later Anthony Davis takes an elbow to the face that leaves him lying on the court covering his nose with his hands. The refs give him an injury timeout, but Davis is back on the court when the game resumes.
Marc Gasol sees the court midway through the 1st quarter, getting a big assist on a pass to Kuzma to a Davis alley oop. Davis and Schroeder trade layups in the key for a few successful drives, but the Suns’ hurry offense wastes no time in responding with buckets of their own taking the lead in the last two minutes of the 1st quarter.
The Lakers advanced early with points in the paint, making layups on drives started with defensive rebounds, but the Suns clinched the advantage going into the 2nd, 28–27.
Wesley Matthews of Los Angeles drains two free throws to finally tie the score 31–31 in the 2nd with Drummond slamming for another two to take the lead, another scoring drive off a rebound. The Phoenix begins stuffing the pocket with bodies to stop the Lakers forward offence allowing Chris Paul to tie the game 33–33 at 8:30. A string of missed shots and turnovers by both teams prevented any scoring until The Lakers timeout at 6:45.
Lakers possession, Shroeder to Kuzma who drains a field goal to put the Lakers up by three, Ben McLemore secures a rebound putting it back in The Lakers’ hands. Devin Booker gets fouled, scores a pair of free throws to put the Suns back on top with five minutes remaining in the half.
A free throw from Schroeder ties the game at 39, KCP steals and banks a layup to take the lead with 90 seconds remaining. Chris Paul grabs a foul and takes two from the line, makes one. Kuzma misses a buzzer beater and the game goes into halftime with The Lakers with a 43–40 lead.
Lakers take possession and score in the first seconds of the half. Davis remains successful offensively in the paint. James steals on a pass and passes to Shroeder, he throws up an alley oop for Davis throwing down hard, Lakers get a 10 point lead.
Suns unable to respond to LA’s momentum, driving a 13 point lead thanks to their smothering defense.
AD collects offensive rebounds and scores giving the Lakers a comfortable 15 point lead. The score was 76–63 Los Angeles at the start of the fourth.
James misses a free throw on a three point play, but recovers a rebound and passes to Matthews for two more. Lakers up 86–68 by the 10:00 mark. Late into the fourth quarter and the Suns still have no answer to this Laker defense. The Lakers climbed to a 19 point lead by the 6:30 mark. Lakers timeout and the Lakers lead 91–74.
Los Angeles slows down the pace of the offense, allowing the Suns to get some successful drives of their own, playing hard to break that 12 point Laker lead. At 2:45, Crowder hits a wide open three to bring the lead to single digits, 89–97. Schroder responds with a layup for two.
A pair of free throws from James puts Los Angeles up by ten at the last two minutes. Devin Booker scores his 18 and 19th point with free throws. The Lakers kept their lead and then some, putting up a 14 point gap by the final buzzer. Los Angeles wins 109–95.
