LeBron James scored 15 of his 31 factors within the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers secured the final semifinal spot within the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament with a 106-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday evening.
Anthony Davis had 27 factors and 15 rebounds and Austin Reaves scored 20 for the highest-seeded Lakers, who will face New Orleans on Thursday in Las Vegas. Milwaukee performs Indiana within the East semifinal.
“You have a playoff environment out there,” mentioned D’Angelo Russell, who struggled for eight factors on 3-of-11 capturing for Los Angeles. “Everybody is coming ready to play. You saw a lot of bodies on the floor. That’s a playoff-like intensity. That’s what the In-Season is bringing. It just allows us to get in that mode before the playoffs are here.”
James placed on a masterful capturing efficiency down the stretch whereas additionally racking up 11 assists, eight rebounds and 5 steals. The 21-yr veteran scored 15 of the Lakers’ first 19 factors within the last interval and acquired the assists on his teammates’ different two baskets as Los Angeles pulled forward.
Kevin Durant scored 31 factors, however he badly missed a 3-level try on the buzzer for the Suns. Phoenix had received eight of 10 earlier than shedding to Los Angeles for the third time already this season.
Devin Booker lower the Lakers’ lead to 102-101 on a layup with 29 seconds to play, however Reaves drilled his third 3-pointer with 15 seconds left.
After Durant made one other layup moments later, the Suns have been left livid when officers granted James’ request for a timeout whereas the ball appeared to be unfastened as a result of Booker had knocked it away from Reaves an instantaneous earlier.
“It’s a loose ball, and you can’t call a timeout on a loose ball,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “The whistle blows. I don’t know why. Everything in the league is reviewable. I don’t know why that can’t be reviewable. … We got the trap, we got the turnover, (and the) damn whistle blows. It’s just frustrating.”
Reaves mentioned he thought Booker in all probability fouled him an instantaneous earlier than the timeout was granted.
“There was no call, and LeBron made a high-IQ play he’s made a million times,” Reaves mentioned.
Durant didn’t share his coach’s anger concerning the name, saying he didn’t initially consider the ball was unfastened when the timeout was granted.
“That’s not the ballgame,” Durant mentioned. “That’s one play. It’s a 48-minute game. I don’t like to complain about calls. Sometimes the ref ain’t going to get it right all the time. Sometimes it’s on us to play through all that stuff and not worry about putting the game in the ref’s hands.”
Davis was finally fouled, however he missed one in all two free throws to open the door for Durant’s potential tying 30-footer.
Booker and Grayson Allen scored 21 factors apiece for Phoenix.
The Lakers earned the highest seed within the West by going unbeaten within the group stage of the inaugural match, together with a win Nov. 10 in Phoenix. The Suns rebounded from that setback to earn a wild-card spot within the knockout spherical.
While followers are nonetheless debating the deserves of the In-Season Tournament, each Vogel and Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned their gamers are stepping into the spirit of the occasion, notably with the motivation to earn monetary bonuses for his or her groups’ help personnel and youthful gamers.
“They’re well aware of that bag,” Ham mentioned with a smile. “Money speaks, man.”
Bradley Beal missed his eleventh straight sport with a persistent again damage for the Suns, who hung in regardless of committing 22 turnovers whereas their two wholesome superstars struggled with foul hassle. Booker picked up his fifth foul early within the fourth quarter, whereas Durant entered the ultimate interval with 4 fouls and dedicated his fifth with 3:18 to play.
Phoenix dedicated 10 turnovers within the first quarter alone, essentially the most by any staff within the league this season. The Suns trailed by 15 within the first half, however scored 14 consecutive factors out of halftime to take a lead.
“We didn’t do enough early in the game,” Vogel mentioned. “The turnovers and on the glass, if we do a better job, we’re not talking about a close game like that.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
