Suns vs Lakers Recap: Suns Blast Lakers in Preseason
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A game like this was a rematch waiting to happen. The Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers. Some bad blood from last year’s playoff game, so surely this game would bring the hype! But alas, this is just preseason and the game played out just like it would.
The Phoenix Suns, minus Devin Booker due to health and safety protocols, played under control throughout the game and with Chris Paul's rhythm that reminds everyone that the Suns are a very good team, maybe even great. And has quite the deep rotation. But the energy from the crowd and the team was a bit muted, given that it was a 3 pm preseason game.
The Los Angeles Lakers, minus LeBron James and Russell Westbrook because they are still out for rest, looked like the worst for wear. The team put out so many turnovers and Anthony Davis was out of his comfort zone a little, and it showed because he had literally never played much, or at all really, with any of these guys on the court around him.
The Suns beat the Lakers 117-105, looking like the best of the West while the Lakers looked like they were not ready to step out onto the court. Maybe it was the lack of confidence without LeBron and Westbrook or maybe it was the fact that this was Anthony’s first time to really play with these guys.
The Suns got up by 12 points in the first quarter, 20 in the second, almost 30 in the third, and basically just made the game one heck of a workout the rest of the way. For what it’s worth, the Suns played a regular rotation— minus Booker — for three straight quarters and Jalen Smith and Abdel Nader got minutes over Elfrid Payton and Frank Kaminsky. Keep in mind this was without Booker who averages about 23-25 points per game and whose FT% is 87%— almost up to 90%.
After going up 30, the Suns finished the game with Chasson Randle, Chandler Hutchison, Elfrid Payton, Frank Kaminsky, and Jalen Smith who all, unfortunately, got roughly outscored as a group, hence the close final score 117-105.
SUN LEADERS:
Deandre Ayton — 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block, (+16) playing mostly matched with Anthony Davis
Mikal Bridges — 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block, (+23)
Chris Paul — 8 points, 11 assists, 1 steal (+11)
LAKERS LEADERS:
Anthony Davis — 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks (-10) — most of Anthony’s actual scores were against players other than Ayton, after switches
Malik Monk — 18 points
