LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 22, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Anthony Davis had 27 points and nine rebounds, D'Angelo Russell added 26 points and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a six-game losing streak against Phoenix with a 122-111 victory over the depleted Suns on Wednesday night.
Austin Reaves had 25 points and a career-high 11 assists after moving into the starting lineup for the Lakers, who improved to 7-5 in LeBron James' latest injury absence with an impressive second half against the powerhouse Suns.
Devin Booker scored 25 of his 33 points in the second half for Phoenix, which has lost five of six. Chris Paul had 18 points for the Suns, who hadn't lost to the Lakers since May 2021.
Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game for Phoenix with an ankle injury, and Deandre Ayton also didn’t make the trip to Los Angeles while sitting out his second game with a hip injury.
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James is still sidelined with a foot injury, allowing the Suns to miss him for the third time this season. The Lakers have kept James' recovery under wraps, but he is scheduled to be re-evaluated later this week.
Booker added six rebounds and five assists, but was limited at key moments by Jarred Vanderbilt while the Lakers maintained a steady lead in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles endangered its playoff hopes with losses to Houston and Dallas last week, but has surged back into a tie for ninth place in the Western Conference postseason picture with consecutive victories.
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The Lakers shot 27 free throws while taking a 12-point lead in the first half, and Davis scored 14 points in the third quarter to keep Los Angeles narrowly ahead.
TIP-INS
Suns: Landry Shamet scored 15 points in his second game back from a 25-game absence with a left foot injury ... Phoenix coach Monty Williams used 11 players in the first half.
Lakers: Reaves scored a career-high 35 points in Los Angeles’ last game against Orlando, prompting coach Darvin Ham to promote him into Malik Beasley’s starting spot. Beasley has struggled to shoot consistently since joining the Lakers in a trade at the deadline, shooting 38% from the field and 33.9% from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Suns: At Sacramento on Friday.
Lakers: Host Oklahoma City on Friday.
