Suns 95-100 Lakers (27 Oct, 2023) Game Recap

LOS ANGELES — When Kevin Durant scored in the final minutes, LeBron James responded. These two great generations of basketball engaged in a scintillating duel during their first face-to-face meeting in almost five years.

Although Durant was better in the first three quarters, he eventually had to admit that he couldn’t do it alone.

James didn’t have to do it.

Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds, James scored 10 of his 21 points while playing the entire fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers outscored Phoenix in the final minutes for a 100-95 victory over the Suns shorthanded Thursday night. .

James made the game-clinching layup with 1:11 left for the Lakers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth to earn their first win of the new season in the home opener from James’ 21st NBA campaign.

Durant, 35, finished with 39 points and 11 rebounds while placing himself in 12th place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

But James, who reigns atop this list, stepped up with back-to-back layups in the final 90 seconds to claim victory in another memorable encounter.

“We’ve had so many battles (and) we don’t have many confrontations left,” James, 38, said. “I don’t know how much we have left, so you never want to take that for granted when you’re with such a great player, one of the best to ever play the game. It’s always a treat. It’s funny.”

Durant almost led the Suns to an improbable victory without the help of injured Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but James was a bit more clutch while also adding nine assists and eight rebounds.

“There were a few moments where you just enjoy what the fans are watching,” said Phoenix coach Frank Vogel, who coached both superstars. “Two of the game’s greats face off. Some collisions there. The level of competition for the second game of the NBA season was extremely high. It was like a playoff game. A boxing match. A fight. … Seeing those two guys fight for that was pretty special.

Durant and James have been friends since Durant’s senior year of high school 17 years ago, but they probably hadn’t faced each other on an NBA court since Christmas 2018. Injuries, load management and protocols health and safety have prevented them from playing in the past. 13 meetings between James’ Lakers and Durant’s Warriors, Nets and Suns.

“Someone you compare yourself to,” Durant said. “If you can accomplish and achieve some of the things he did, you’re doing pretty well. It’s just a foundation for you, as a player, to see how great you can be.

Even though James was good, he wasn’t totally responsible for the way the Suns struggled down the stretch without Booker or Beal to take attention away from Durant. Phoenix led 84-72 early in the fourth, but missed 13 of its next 14 shots and committed 10 turnovers in the next 10 minutes.

Durant still tied it at 91 with 1:28 left by scoring on two consecutive possessions. With his latest bucket, he passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th place on the scoring list.

But James responded with two baskets sandwiching a missed 3-pointer by Durant. Austin Reaves and Davis made free throws in the final seconds to ice Los Angeles.

James enters his third NBA decade with the Lakers determined to limit his minutes to optimize his health, but Los Angeles struggled mightily every time James was off the court in the first half. James and coach Darvin Ham decided to scrap the plan for one night because the Lakers had all their downtime to maximize the freshness of James, who said he felt good after playing just 23 minutes in the during the first three quarters.

“It was tough,” Durant said. “He was coaching the team on how to protect certain actions. That’s what he’s done his whole career. … It’s always a battle playing against high IQ players like that.”

Eric Gordon added 15 points in Suns coach Vogel’s first return against the Lakers, who fired him 18 months ago after three seasons and an NBA title.

Booker sat out with left foot soreness after twisting his foot late during his 28-point performance against Golden State on Tuesday. Beal still has not made his debut with the Suns due to a lower back strain.

FOLLOWING

Suns: Host Utah on Saturday.

Lakers: at Sacramento on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA