After defeating the Phoenix Suns 106–103, the Los Angeles Lakers will go to Las Vegas to compete in the NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals. 

Kevin Durant and LeBron James both finished with 31 points to lead their clubs in a game that came down to the final shot. 

With 10 mistakes in the first quarter and a 33-23 deficit after 12 minutes, Phoenix didn’t get off to the best start possible. Jusuf Nurkic was sent to the bench after drawing two early fouls; he had fouled out in the previous two games as well. 

Though Phoenix cut the Lakers’ advantage to four points during a 0-10 shooting streak, the Suns still made too many mistakes and went into halftime down 59-47. In addition to forcing 14 first-half turnovers from Phoenix, Los Angeles pounded the boards with 12 оffensive rebounds. 

But the Suns would regain their poise in the third quarter, when they went on a 14-0 run that gave them a temporary lead over the Lakers. The quarter would conclude with the Lakers up 83–82, having reclaimed the lead. 

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker should keep an eye out for foul trouble in the fourth quarter. Durant (4) and Booker (5) were both on the verge of fouling out with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game. 

Although both teams traded blows in the final seconds, the Lakers took a five-point lead with two minutes and twenty seconds remaining in the fourth quarter thanks to consecutive baskets by LeBron. 

In the final 30 seconds of the game, Booker laid up an easy layup to put the Lakers up 101–101, but Austin Reaves responded with a three-pointer to put the Hornets back up 105–101. 

It came down to a last-second Durant three-pointer, but he missed the mark as time ran out, tying the game. 

Phoenix finished the game with 22 turnovers, and Los Angeles shot 37% from the floor. 

After Thursday’s match, the Lakers will advance to Friday’s consolation game in the in-season tournament.