Lakers player grades: L.A. slams Suns, improves playoff positioning
The Lakers' blowout win over the Suns on Friday assured them of no worse than the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
The night after defeating the Golden State Warriors 119-103 in San Francisco, the Los Angeles Lakers quickly headed home to host the Phoenix Suns on Friday. As the Warriors were on Thursday, the Suns were short-handed — they didn't have the services of All-Star guard Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Jordan Goodwin and Haywood Highsmith. The Lakers took advantage and started quickly in this game by getting out to a 30-14 lead with 3:09 left in the first quarter.
Phoenix stayed in the thick of things by dominating the offensive boards, and it went ahead momentarily about midway through the second quarter. But Los Angeles regained the lead and was up 57-48 at halftime, and it consistently extended its lead afterward, allowing it to secure a 101-73 victory. While L.
A. shot 50. 7% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, it won easily thanks to its defense.
The Suns made just 33. 8% of their field-goal attempts and seven of their 40 3-point attempts, and in the second half, they were a paltry 22. 9% overall.
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