The Los Angeles Lakers ended a three-game losing run with a 122-119 victory against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night in the NBA In-Season Tournament behind 32 points from LeBron James and 19 from D’Angelo Russell.
James had a fantastic game, hitting 11 of 17 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc in his 21st season. He played for 36 minutes and tallied 11 boards and six assists.
Kevin Durant scored 38 points to lead the Suns, while Bradley Beal added 24 points, 20 of which came in the first half. For the fourth consecutive game, Devin Booker sat out with a strained right calf.
The Lakers finally took the lead for good in the second half when Austin Reaves converted a basket with 9:25 to play, capping off a 14-0 run. Reaves tacked on a pair of fourth-quarter midrange jumpers to help Los Angeles maintain their lead.
With 1:10 left, Cam Reddish’s corner 3-pointer off a feed from James put the Lakers up 118-113. He finished with 17 points. Before Reddish made the shot, Los Angeles had three offensive rebounds at that spot.
James got fouled in the first quarter and got up holding his lower left leg thereafter. After receiving treatment on the bench, the 38-year-old great came back for the start of the second quarter.