Lakers pull away in second half to take 2-1 lead on Suns

May 29 ------ Behind another strong defensive performance, the host Los Angeles Lakers smothered the Phoenix Suns for a 109-95 victory and a 2-1 series lead in the opening round of the NBA playoffs Thursday, May 27 (Friday, May 28, Manila time). Los Angeles had about 7,500 fans in attendance as Staples Center hosted a Lakers playoff game for the first time since 2013. Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers with 34 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James chipped in 21 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. Dennis Schroder added 20 points and 4 assists. Deandre Ayton led the Suns with 22 points – his third straight game with at least 20 points. Devin Booker added 19 points and Cameron Payne contributed 15 points.

The Lakers opened the second half on a 16-6 run, taking control of the game and the series. Los Angeles took a 13-point lead with just over six minutes left in the third quarter and held onto a 76-63 advantage at the end of the third. Los Angeles extended that lead to 21 points with 7:24 left on a reverse lay-in by James that brought the crowd to its feet and seemingly put the game away.

The Suns kept things interesting, cutting LA's advantage to eight points with 2:47 left on Jae Crowder's three-pointer. But they got no closer. Booker was ejected from the game for pushing Schroder to the ground on a drive to the basket with 35 seconds left. Crowder followed Booker to the locker room when he received a technical and was ejected for jawing with Schroder. The Lakers bottled up Phoenix defensively, holding the Suns to 42.7% shooting. Los Angeles also held a 51-35 rebound advantage and 58-38 edge in paint points. The Suns led 28-27 after the first quarter, but the Lakers overtook them in the second and opened a 43-40 lead at halftime. Davis paced the Lakers with 12 points and 5 rebounds in the first half.

Phoenix guard Chris Paul still seemed to be feeling the effects from a bruised right shoulder that limited him in the first two games of the series. Paul finished with 7 points and 6 assists in 27 minutes. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suffered a left leg injury in the third quarter and had to go to the locker room for further evaluation. The Lakers announced that Caldwell-Pope suffered a left quad contusion. He did not return. According to ESPN, Caldwell-Pope will undergo an MRI.

Source: rappler.com

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RESULTS

Utah Jazz 141 - Memphis Grizzlies 129

Milwaukee Bucks 113 - Miami Heat 84

Los Angeles Lakers 109 - Phoenix Suns 95

Denver Nuggets 120 - Portland Trail Blazers 115

STANDINGS

Western Series Round 1

Utah Jazz 1 - Memphis Grizzlies 1

Los Angeles Lakers 2 - Phoenix Suns 1

Denver Nuggets 2 - Portland Trail Blazers 1

Dallas Mavericks 2 - Los Angeles Clippers 0

Eastern Series Round 1

Philadelphia 76ers 2 - Washington Wizards 0

Brooklyn Nets 2 - Boston Celtics 0

Milwaukee Bucks 3 - Miami Heat 0

Atlanta Hawks 1 - New York Knicks 1