Suns fall to Lakers, 1-1 on the season.

Phoenix lost 100-95 to the Los Angeles Lakers without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, falling to 1-1 on the season.

The action unfolded:

PHOENIX SUNS STARTERS

Eric Gordon

Grayson Allen

Josh Okogie

Kevin Durant

Jusuf Nurkic

OUT: Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Damion Lee

LOS ANGELES LAKERS STARTERS

D’Angelo Russell

Austin Reaves

LeBron James

Taurean Prince

Anthony Davis

OUT: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarred Vanderbilt

RECAP

Five turnovers helped the Lakers open 7-0. In their last triumph over Golden State, turnovers set Phoenix back, and that trend continued in the second night. 

However, the Suns immediately recovered and passed the Lakers for a 14-13 lead halfway through the first. After going 0-6 in the season opening, Grayson Allen scored his first Sun bucket and drove and kicked to open players.

With Phoenix ahead 17-16, Eric Gordon hit a three for his eighth point of the first and forced a Lakers timeout. 

A floater by former Wizard backup point guard Jordan Goodwin extended the Suns’ advantage to double figures at 12-0. 

Phoenix led 30-18 in the second quarter while the Lakers shot 35% and had seven fewer rebounds. Los Angeles made one of nine three-pointers. 

LA took control of the second quarter with a 20-5 run to lead 38-35 at 5:55, prompting Frank Vogel to call a timeout. The run featured seven points and two assists from LeBron James. 

The Suns responded to their new message by going on a 15-2 run at halftime and leading 52-48. Phoenix forced 10 turnovers and had multiple scorers in Durant (15), Gordon (12), and Goodwin (10). 

After another turnover-filled quarter, Phoenix had a slender lead over the Lakers until Durant scored 15 points to put Phoenix ahead 84-72 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Los Angeles’ 6-0 run forced another Vogel timeout, and Jusuf Nurkic’s fifth foul with 7:00 left increased tension. 

Phoenix started the fourth quarter 1-12 from the field. Lakers didn’t fare better, but a Davis And-1 conversion tied it at 87-87 with 4:16 left. 

The next possession, Nurkic committed Phoenix’s eighth turnover of the quarter, allowing LeBron to split a double team and finish a stunning layup to take the lead. 

James continued to dominate around the basket, scoring eight straight points to put the Lakers ahead 95-91 with 41 seconds left after Durant tied the game at 91-91 and passed Hakeen Olajuwon for 12th on the NBA’s all-time scoring record. 

Suns lost opening game of season after failing to erase deficit before buzzer. Phoenix lost 28-11 in the fourth quarter. 

Notable Performances:

Kevin Durant – 39 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block

LeBron James – 21 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, two steals, two blocks

Anthony Davis – 30 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, three steals, three blocks

They’ll be back home on Saturday for their opener at the Footprint Center against the Utah Jazz.