NBA Playoffs: The Suns were way too hot for the Lakers in Game 5
Phoenix, Arizona - The Phoenix Suns didn’t mess around, taking game five while taking advantage of the LA Lakers, who were missing one of their best players on Tuesday night.
Devin Booker (24) led the way for the Suns, as they exploded with some serious offense and cruised past the Lakers 115-85 to take a 3-2 series lead in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
LeBron James and the Lakers came into the game without their other big star, Anthony Davis, who exited their Game 4 loss with an injured groin. With him missing from the lineup, the Suns saw an easier path to a much-needed win.
James did step up in Davis’ absence with seven first-quarter points, out of his 24 for the game. But after jumping out to an early lead, the momentum shifted sharply in Phoenix’s favor. The Suns simply outshot the Lakers, starting with an eight-point advantage after quarter number one and then going way off for a 30-point lead at halftime.
Booker took matters into his own hands with a game-high 30 points, while Chris Paul had to exit the game in the third quarter, still bothered by a nagging shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the series. And the Suns played like a well-oiled machine, committing only four turnovers in the whole game while spreading the ball around as 13 out of 14 Suns scored in the game.
The fourth quarter belonged to both benches as the game was way past saving for the Lakers.
Game six is now do-or-die for the Lakers
LeBron did do his part, but his supporting cast has to step up in game six for LA to have a better chance at staying alive. The other four guys who started the game with him could only total up 11 points, while the Lakers’ bench had a tough time picking up the slack.
Having Anthony Davis back and healthy would obviously help since Phoenix just proved that without him, the Lakers have slim odds of making any kind of comeback.
The Suns are now only one game away from knocking out the defending NBA champions, as they head back to LA for game six on Thursday night.
Cover photo: IMAGO / UPI Photo